Endothelin-1 and in vitro evidence of renal artery vasoconstriction after liver transplantation

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Abstract
Twelve pigs underwent orthotopic liver transplantation. The mean endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in the serum samples of the recipient animals 1 h after reperfusion of the graft (6.2±1.5 pg/ml) was significantly higher (Pr=0.62,PM KCl. Moreover, these contractility response rates were significantly reduced (32.8±21.0%) with the addition of the ET-1 receptor antagonist FR139 317. The results of the present study demonstrated that the liver transplantation was associated with elevation of ET-1 in the serum of the recipient animals. It was considered that ET-1 in the serum caused a direct vasoconstriction of the renal artery in vitro. This may help to explain the renal dysfunction that is often seen in the recipients of clinical liver transplantation.