system
Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: AIMS, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Animals, Arginine Vasopressin, Atrial Natriuretic Factor, Blood Pressure, Carbon Tetrachloride, Cyclic GMP, Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids, Cytokines, Endothelin-1, Humans, Hypertension, Portal, Liver, Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental, Male, Neprilysin, Portal Vein, Protease Inhibitors, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Vascular Resistance.
user
Neutral endopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.11) in cirrhotic liver: a new target to treat portal hypertension? Context: In liver cirrhosis atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) decreases portal vascular resistance and tributary flow. The enzyme neutral endopeptidase (NEP) degrades ANP and bradykinin and generates endothelin-1 from big-endothelin. We determined the effects of NEP inhibition by candoxatrilat on hormonal status, liver function and arterial and portal pressures in rats with CCl4-induced cirrhosis. Two groups of seven control rats received 1 ml 5% glucose solution alone or containing 10 mg/kg candoxatrilat; three groups of 10 ascitic cirrhotic rats received placebo, 5 or 10 mg/kg candoxatrilat. NEP protein concentration and immunostaining were analyzed in normal and cirrhotic livers. In cirrhotic rats 10 mg/kg candoxatrilat significantly increased steady-state indocyanine green clearance (a parameter reflecting liver plasma flow) (P<0.01), decreased portal pressure (P<0.01), had no effect on arterial pressure and plasma renin activity but increased ANP plasma levels (P<0.05) and urinary excretions (P<0.01) of ANP and cGMP. In the cytosol fraction of rat cirrhotic livers a 280% increase in NEP content was found (P<0.01), chiefly localized in desmin-positive myofibroblast-like cells of fibrous septa.
assistant
Candoxatrilat has few effects on systemic hemodynamics and hormonal status; its portal hypotensive action depends on effects exerted on intrahepatic vascular resistance.