Action of norepinephrine on microcirculation and p0₂ distribution in the isolated perfused rat liver

The addition of a potent vasoconstrictor, such as norepinephrine, induces an influx of sodium and an efflux of calcium and potassium in the parenchymal cells of the perfused liver. This reaction can be reversed by the addition of dihydroergotoxine mesylate (active substance of Hydergine®). The example shows clearly that very distinct biological signals arc generated under such conditions at the membrane level of the hepatocytes and presumably of other cells of liver tissue. At present, our investigations cannot clearly answer the question of whether or not swelling and shrinkage of parenchymal cells and of endothelial cells can serve as an additional mechanism for regulating microcirculation.