AIM:To investigate the effect of sodium pentobarbitone (SP) or ketamine/xylazine (KX) anesthetics on acute gastric injury. METHODS:Portal hypertension was induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) or portal vein stenosis (PVS). Ethanol (EtOH)-induced gastric damage was assessed using ex vivo gastric chamber experiments. Gastric blood flow (GBF) was also measured by laser doppler flowmetry. RESULTS:EtOH-induced gastric damage was reduced in BDL rats under KX anesthesia in comparison to those under SP anesthesia. GBF dysfunction in fasted BDL rats was partially restored under KX anesthesia. In contrast, in fasted PVS rats, EtOH-induced gastric damage was increased under KX anesthesia while GBF was reduced. CONCLUSION:The use of KX anesthesia in experimental procedures involving cirrhotic rats (but not those with pure portal hypertension) is preferable to SP anesthesia. Câmara PRS, Moi GP, Ferraz JGP, Zeitune JMR. Effect of anes thetics on gastric damage using two models of portal hyperten sion.