Blockade of Mas Receptor or Mas-Related G-Protein Coupled Receptor Type D Reduces Portal Pressure in Cirrhotic but Not in Non-cirrhotic Portal Hypertensive Rats

Abstract

Portal hypertension (PHT) resulting from splanchnic vasodilatation is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cirrhosis. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in splanchnic vasodilatation in cirrhosis. This study investigated whether acute blockade of the vasodilatory receptors of the alternate RAS, Mas (MasR), Mas-related G-protein coupled receptor type D (MrgD), and angiotensin II type-2 receptor (AT2R) improves PHT in cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic portal hypertensive rats and counteracts systemic hypotension associated with angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) blockade. Cirrhotic bile duct ligated (BDL) or carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) injected and non-..