Changes in hepatic venous resistance were estimated in rabbits from the hepatic venular-inferior vena caval pressure gradient [servo-null micropipettes in 49 +/- 15 (SD) microns vessels] and the total hepatic blood flow (ultrasound probe encircling the hepatic artery and the portal vein). Changes in liver volume, and thus vascular capacitance, were estimated from measures of the liver lobe thickness. Norepinephrine (NE), isoproterenol (Iso), adenosine (Ado), histamine (Hist), or acetylcholine (ACh) was infused into the portal vein at a constant rate for 5 min. NE, Hist, and Ado increased hepatic venular pressure, but only NE and Hist significantly increased hepatic venular resistance. NE reduced the liver thickness, but Hist and Ado caused engorgement. Hepatic blood flow was increased by NE and Ado and decreased by ACh. The influence of intraportal vein infusion of Iso on the liver vasculature, at doses similar to that of NE, was insignificant. We conclude that NE acted on all the hepatic microvasculature, increasing resistance and actively decreasing vascular volume. Hist passively induced engorgement by increasing outflow resistance, whereas the liver engorgement seen with Ado was passively related to the increased blood flow. ACh constricted the portal venules but did not change the liver volume.