Role of nitric oxide in ethanol-induced perturbation of hepatic microcirculation in rat liver.

Microcirculatory disturbance is one of the main pathogenetic features of alcoholic liver damage. We have demonstrated that ethanol increased portal pressure, leading to hepatic hypoxia and hepatocellular necrosis. In this ethanol-induced hepatic vasoconstriction, nitric oxide, an endothelial derived relaxing factor, dilated constrictive hepatic vasculature and reduced liver injury by improving the microcirculatory disturbance.