Objective To investigate the significance of terlipressin in treating
portal hypertension via comparing the effects of terlipression
on the portal hemodynamics, both in normal and
portal hypertension rabbits with those of pituitrin. Methods Twenty New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into four groups as normal rabbits treated with terlipressin ( n =4), normal rabbits treated with pituitrin ( n =4), portal
Hypertension rabbits treated with terlipressin ( n =7) and portal hypertension rabbits treated with pituitrin ( n =5). Rabbits with portal hypertension were made via partial portal venous ligation. Before and 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60 minutes after intravenous administration of terlipressin and pituitrin, the changes of portal vein pressure (PVP), portal vein blood flow (PVF), heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MVP) were determined respectively. Results There were no significant differences in maximal roles on decreasing PVP between terlipressin and pituitrin ( P >0.05). However, 60 minutes after injection, the roles of pituitrin vanished but terlipressin still had significant effects ( P <0.05). Moreover, there were less changes of HR (6.5±0.5)% and MAP (9.6± 0.7 )% in portal hypertension rabbits with administration of terlipressin than those with pituitrin ( 23.3 ± 2.3 )% and (15.7±0.7)%, respectively ( P <0.05). Conclusions The effects of terlipressin are more persistent, and safe for treating portal hypertension than pituitrin.