Neurotensin-induced increase in intestinal blood flow in the anesthetized rat

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Abstract
Cardiac output (CO) and blood flow to major organs were investigated in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats using 85Sr and 141Ce labeled microspheres (mS) of 15 .mu.m diameter injected into the left ventricle. Changes in organ blood flow and CO were measured after intraventricular dextran (3.4 .mu.mol/kg per min) and i.v. neurotensin (NT) at 2 different rates, 2.5 nmol/kg per min and 0.125 nmol/kg per min. Dextran, known to give anaphylactoid response in rats, reduced the mean arterial pressure (MAP) from 118 .+-. 17 to 55 .+-. 8 mmHg (P < 0.001) concomitant with a 56% decline in CO and significant decreases in blood flow to most organs. At 2.5 nmol/kg per min, NT caused a pattern of changes in MAP, CO and organ blood flow similar to that obtained with dextran, and thus consistent with an indirect response via mast cell stimulation. NT injected at 0.125 nmol/kg per min resulted in a significant increase (30%) in blood flow to the small intestine (P < 0.01) without changes in MAP or CO. Vascular resistance decreased by 30% in the small intestine (P < 0.01) and by 20% in the large intestine (P < 0.05). Circulating NT, at concentrations below those eliciting hypotension, apparently enhances intestinal blood flow without significant changes in other organs.

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