The effects of experimentally induced fever on the estimated blood flow to and oxygen utilization by the liver and the viscera drained by the portal vein in sheep.

Intrajugular injection of a purified E. coli lipopolysaccharide induced a biphasic fever in sheep after a latent period of 12 to 20 min. The changes in the blood flow from the liver and from the viscera drained by the portal vein were: (a) in the latent period, decreases in total hepatic blood flow (THF) due to decreased portal venous blood flow (PVF); (b) during the first febrile phase, increases in THF due to increased hepatic arterial blood flow and, (c) in the second febrile phase, decreases in THF due to decreased PVF. Although there were large variations in the oxygen supply to the viscera drained by the portal vein and to the liver, there were relatively small or no changes in their oxygen consumption.