Determination of hepatic portal vein blood flow
Hepatic portal vein blood flow was measured
with a bi-directional Doppler blood flowmeter
(DVM-4300, Hadeco, Tokyo, Japan). As noted
above, puffer fish was anesthetized and placed on
the experimental workbench. After the laparotomy
of fish body, the ultrasonic probe (10 MHz, type
HP10M2N5A, Hadeco) was held on hepatic portal
vein and output of the flowmeter was recorded.
Next, TTX solution (0.25mg TTX/500 mL/kg body
weight) was bolus-injected into the hepatic vein and
output of the flowmeter was recorded at 10-min
intervals for 60 min after the administration