O2 microelectrode measurements were made in the cat carotid body (CB) at normal control blood pressures (C) and after hemorrhage (H) to reduce mean arterial blood pressure [C, 98.7 +/- 4.6 (SE) mmHg; H, 58.1 +/- 1.8; P less than 0.001; paired t test; n = 9 cats]. Mean tissue PO2 (PtiO2) was significantly lower (C, 78.4 +/- 3.0 Torr; H, 65.3 +/- 4.8; P less than 0.01). Except for two experiments with good autoregulation, the decrease in PtiO2 correlated with the reduction in blood pressure (r = 0.791, P less than 0.005). Measurements of O2 disappearance curves (DCs) and sinus nerve discharge (ND) were obtained after blood supply was occluded for 30–45 s (56 C DCs, 44 H DCs). Disappearance rates (dPO2/dt) were significantly slower after hemorrhage (C, -7.52 +/- 0.47 Torr/s; H, -6.60 +/- 0.44; P less than 0.01), decreasing by 0.656 Torr/s for each 10 Torr fall in PtiO2 (r = 0.626, P less than 0.05). Resting ND before occlusion increased during hypotension (11.6 +/- 2.9% of control, P less than 0.01) and correlated with the decrease in PtiO2 (r = -0.792, P less than 0.005). A computer simulation was performed for a two-cytochrome metabolic model with a second, low-O2-affinity oxidase in addition to normal oxidative metabolism. The effects of cat oxyhemoglobin and blood pH on the O2 DC measurement were also taken into account. The simulation for the two-cytochrome model was consistent with our experimental data and predicts reductions in blood flow and O2 metabolism with hypotension after hemorrhage that have similarities, as well as aspects that disagree, with previous reports in the literature.
Carotid body: a metabolic sensor implicated in insulin resistance
