Therapeutic potential of targeting the renin angiotensin system in portal hypertension

Figure 3 Angiotensin-(1-7)-induced portal pressure reduction. Portal pressure changes in response to angiotensin II (Ang II) in cirrhotic rat liver. Portal pressure responses were measured using a vertically positioned graduated fluid-filled column open to atmospheric pressure. Ang II bolus (60 pmole) was injected into the portal vein of in-situ perfused cirrhotic rat liver preparations in the presence of an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor lisinopril (0.7 μmol/L). A: Percentage increases in pressure in response to Ang II bolus in the absence (closed circles) or presence (open circles) of angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7), 0.7 μmol/L]. The highest pressure that was recorded 45 s after the Ang II bolus injection was designated as 100% response and all other responses were calculated relative to this maximal reponse. B: The total area under Ang II response curve (AUC) in the absence (filled bar) or presence (open bar) of Ang-(1-7). Portal pressure change at each time point in panel A and AUC in B represents the mean ± SEM from 21 cirrhotic rat liver preparations. Pre-incubation with Ang-(1-7) significantly reduced the portal pressure response evoked by Ang II bolus injection. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 vs those with Ang II alone.