The effect of intraportal six-hydroxy-dopamine on hemorrhage after standardized liver trauma in rats.

Sympathetic denervation of the liver was accomplished by intraportal injection of 6-hydroxy-dopamine in rats. The animals were subjected to standardized liver trauma 1 week later. Blood loss and duration of bleeding from the cut raw surface were more than doubled in the denervated animals. Mean arterial blood pressure was significantly lower in the denervated animals, but stable during hemorrhage in both denervated and innervated animals. Platelet aggregation and the intrinsic coagulation system were not affected by the chemical denervation. Hepatic norepinephrine was almost eliminated by the denervation procedure. These findings suggest that the liver nerves at the porta hepatis should be preserved during hepatic resections.