Pharmacological manipulation of human gastrointestinal blood flow
Abstract
The splanchnic circulation is one of the largest vascular regions in man. In the past, this has been difficult to study because of methodological problems. The adapting of noninvasive Doppler techniques has made it possible to develop reproducible measurements of coeliac and superior mesenteric artery blood flow, which are the main contributors to the gastrointestinal vasculature. This has resulted in the further understanding of neurogenic and humoral control of this region in a number of physiological and pathophysiological states, and has contributed towards the knowledge of its pharmacological control. These studies are of relevance to cardiovascular homeostasis and, in particular, systemic blood pressure control which depends upon various factors including responses in different vascular regions. In this review the key physiological factors which influence pharmacological studies on this circulation will be discussed. Examples will be provided, in subjects with cardiovascular and neurological disorders, of how administration of endogenous and exogenous substances, including drugs with specific pharmacological effects, alter human gastrointestinal blood flow. These will include insulin, alcohol, the somatostatin analogue oc...Continue Reading
References
The effect of captopril on the superior mesenteric artery and portal venous blood flow in normal man
Assessment of splanchnic oxygenation by gastric tonometry in patients with acute circulatory failure
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