Measurement of pulsatile insulin secretion in the rat: direct sampling from the hepatic portal vein

It has previously been shown that insulin is secreted in discrete secretory bursts by sampling directly from the portal vein in the dog and humans. Deficient pulsatile insulin secretion is the basis for impaired insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes. However, while novel genetically modified disease models of diabetes are being developed in rodents, no validated method for quantifying pulsatile insulin secretion has been established for rodents. To address this we 1) developed a novel rat model with chronically implanted portal vein catheters, 2) established the parameters to permit deconvolution of portal vein insulin concentrations profiles to measure insulin secretion and resolve its pulsatile components, and 3) measured total and pulsatile insulin secretion compared with that in the dog, the species in which this sampling and deconvolution approach was validated for quantifying pulsatile insulin secretion. In rats, portal vein catheter patency and function were maintained for periods up to 2-3 wk with no postoperative complications such as catheter tract infection. Rat portal vein insulin concentration profiles in the fasting state revealed distinct insulin oscillations with a periodicity of approximately 5 min and an amplitude of up to 600 pmol/l, which was remarkably similar to that in the dogs and in humans. Deconvolution analysis of portal vein insulin concentrations revealed that the majority of insulin ( approximately 70%) in the rat is secreted in distinct insulin pulses occurring at approximately 5-min intervals. This model therefore permits direct accurate measurements of pulsatile insulin secretion in a relatively inexpensive animal. With increased introduction of genetically modified rat models will be an important tool in elucidating the underlying mechanisms of impaired pulsatile insulin secretion in diabetes.     

Potential role of the neuropeptide CGRP in the induction of differentiation of rat hepatic portal vein wall

The media of the rat hepatic portal vein is composed of an internal circular muscular layer (CL) and an external longitudinal muscular layer (LL). These two perpendicular layers differentiate progressively from mesenchymal cells within the first month after birth. In this paper, we studied the development of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) innervation during post-natal differentiation of the vessel. We show that CGRP innervation is already present around the vessel at birth in the future adventitia but far from the lumen of the vessel. Progressively, CGRP immunoreactive fibers reached first LL then CL. CL by itself become only innervated at day 14 after birth. This corresponds to the time at which thick filaments (myosin) are visible in electron microscopy and desmin visualisable by immunocytochemistry. Furthermore, we provide evidence by autoradiography, that binding sites for CGRP are transiently expressed on the portal vein media at day 1 and 14 after birth. Vascular smooth muscle cells were transfected with constructs containing promoters for desmin or smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (smMHC). CGRP treatment of the cells significantly increased the expression of smMHC. Overall these results suggest that CGRP can potentially influence the differentiation of smooth muscle cells from the vessel wall.     

Validation of the hepatic portal vein cannulation technique using Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L.

This study assessed the hepatic portal vein cannulation technique and surgical recovery in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar. Haematocrit levels were maintained and blood variables, including cortisol, returned to baseline levels within 1–3 days post-surgery, indicating that this technique is a viable, useful method to study the digestive physiology of fishes.     

门静脉海绵样变大鼠门静脉氧化应激损伤的研究

目的:考察门静脉海绵样变性(CTPV,Cavernous transformation of portal vein)大鼠体内氧化应激的状态以及氧化应激对门静脉结构的影响。方法:采用门脉部分结扎法复制CTPV大鼠动物模型;通过测定门静脉内血浆超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)的活力来分析机体抗氧化能力,测定丙二醛(MDA)含量分析机体氧化能力;门静脉HE染色观察门静脉病理变化。结果:Sham组大鼠门静脉造影显示门静脉通畅,无曲张与扩张;门静脉病理学检查显示门静脉管腔无增大、内皮细胞光滑、中膜平滑肌层无增厚、外膜完整。CTPV组大鼠门静脉造影显示门静脉周围侧支循环形成,门静脉病理检查显示多个管腔大小不一、外形不规则血管腔,管腔之间为较狭窄的纤维性间隔,其内可见脂肪细胞、散在的淋巴细胞及肥大细胞等,门静脉管腔增大、血管内膜受损、内皮细胞脱落、中膜平滑肌增厚和血栓形成。与Sham组大鼠比较,CTPV组大鼠SOD、GSH-Px活性降低(93.79+8.87μU/L Vs103.05+8.07μU/L,P<0.05,157.44+26.46U/ml Vs709.09+83.21U/ml,P<0...     

Neural influences and norepinephrine sensitivity in the rat portal vein

Experimental evidence suggests that innervation can exert a long-term control and modulation on effector cell homeostasis. These trophic influences are known to occur between the motor innervation and skeletal muscles, tissues in which these phenomena have been well studied. A similar picture is also emerging to indicate that smooth muscles may be subjected to a neurotrophic influence. The present paper reviews and presents data obtained after chemical sympathectomy of rat portal vein with 6-hydroxydopamine. Basically three experimental protocols were utilized: 1) studies before and after complete in vitro denervation, using the vessel as its own control; 2) in vivo sympathectomy followed by in vitro studies at various times thereafter; and 3) experiments in which the veins were denervated in vitro, placed in organ culture, and treated with either norepinephrine (NE) or the vehicle. The results indicate that in rat portal vein the sympathetic innervation normally exerts a trophic influence mediated, at least in part, by NE. This evidence is discussed in relation to other smooth muscles insofar as supersensitivity mechanisms and other possible effects triggered by transmitter withdrawal. The discussion is extended to encompass ways by which NE could exert its effects, and the possibility of other trophic factors.     

Glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide: differential effects on hepatic artery vs. portal vein endothelial cells

Glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) has been reported to have opposing effects on splanchnic blood flow. GIP infusion in dogs results in an increase in portal vein circulation but a drop in hepatic artery blood flow. In an effort to evaluate whether these different responses were related to intrinsic differences in GIP effects, we isolated canine hepatic artery (HAEC) and portal vein endothelial cells (PVEC). We report that there are differences in GIP activation of the signal transduction pathways in these two cell types. GIP stimulates secretion of endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor, from HAEC (EC50 0.28 nM) but not from PVEC. This effect could be abolished by preventing a rise in intracellular calcium, demonstrating the calcium dependence of GIP-induced ET-1 secretion from HAEC. The GIP effect was specific, as a GIP receptor antagonist blocked it. In contrast, GIP stimulated nitric oxide production from PVEC (EC50 0.09 nM) but not from HAEC. Taken together, our data demonstrate distinct differences in GIP effects on HAEC from those on PVEC. We conclude that differences in GIP stimulation of ET-1 vs. nitric oxide production in different vascular beds may account for some of the observed differences in its physiological effects.