Autoregulatory escape from vasoconstriction of intestinal circulation in developing swine

The capability of the developing intestinal circulation to maintain a vasoconstrictor response during postganglionic adrenergic nerve stimulation or norepinephrine infusion was examined in 34 swine aged 6 h to 2 mo anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium. Aortic and portal venous pressures, electrocardiogram (ECG), and blood flow (F) through the superior mesenteric artery were recorded, and intestinal vascular resistance (MVR) was calculated as mean pressure difference per mean F. Baroreceptor reflex inhibition by bilateral occlusion of the carotid arteries increased MVR, section of the splanchnic nerve and postganglionic fibers decreased MVR, and short-latency F decreases were obtained during mesenteric nerve stimulation (MNS). Latencies for the decreases in F shortened with age and with increasing MNS frequency (5–17 Hz) at any age. Prolonging MNS for 60 s at 10 or 12 Hz led to sustained high MVR in 6-h to 7-day-old animals; however, MVR decreased toward control before the end of the 60-s MNS period in animals 1 to 2 mo old. Intra-arterial infusion of norepinephrine (0.5 microgram X kg-1 X min-1) decreased F and increased MVR in all animals; but by 5 min of infusion, F was returning toward control level in all but the youngest. This demonstration that the least mature intestinal circulation was least capable of autoregulatory escape from vasoconstriction provides further evidence of its functional immaturity.