Effect of experimental acute hypertension of the biliary tract on hemodynamics and activity of the major splanchnic nerve in rabbits.

An experimental study of the effect of acute biliary hypertension on hemodynamics and activity of the major splanchnic nerve was conducted in Japanese big ear white rabbits. A catheter with an inflatable rubber bag fixed to its anterior end was inserted into the extrahepatic biliary duct via the duodenum, and a biliary high pressure of 20 kFa (150 mmHg) was created and maintained for 2 h by inflating the bag with water. The right major splanchnic nerve was isolated and the impulse frequencies of the nerve were recorded during the study. Arterial blood pressure was also dynamically monitored. A significant fall of the arterial blood pressure (P less than 0.01) and an increase in impulse frequency of the nerve (P less than 0.01) were found in this "simple type" acute biliary high pressure without infection. Biliary decompression immediately eliminated these abnormalities (P less than 0.01). The drop in blood pressure was much less prominent if the right splanchnic nerve was blocked prior to biliary high pressure.