scholarly journals Effects of inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis and of hypercapnia on blood pressure and brain blood flow in the turtle.

1997 ◽  
Vol 200 (4) ◽  
pp. 815-820
Author(s):  
V Söderström ◽  
G E Nilsson ◽  
P L Lutz

In the mammalian brain, nitric oxide (NO) is responsible for a vasodilatory tonus as well as the elevation of cerebral blood flow (CBF) induced by hypercapnia. There have been few comparative studies of cerebral vasoregulation in lower vertebrates. Using epi-illumination microscopy in vivo to observe CBF velocity on the brain surface (cerebral cortex), we show that turtles (Trachemys scripta) exposed to hypercapnia (inspired PCO2 = 4.9 kPa) displayed a 62% increase in CBF velocity, while systemic blood pressure remains constant. Exposing turtles to a PCO2 of 14.9 kPa caused an additional increase in CBF velocity, to 104% above control values, as well as a 30% increase in systemic blood pressure. The elevated CBF velocity during hypercapnia could not be blocked by a systemic injection of the NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA). However, L-NA injection caused a temporary stop in CBF as well as a persistent increase in systemic blood pressure, suggesting that there is a NO tonus that is attenuated by the NOS inhibitor and that CBF is strongly dependent on this tonus, although compensatory mechanisms exist. Thus, although the cerebrovascular reaction to hypercapnia appeared to be NO-independent, the results suggest that there is a NO-dependent vasodilatory tonus affecting both cerebral and systemic blood circulation in this species.

Author(s):  
Hans T. Versmold

Systemic blood pressure (BP) is the product of cardiac output and total peripheral resistance. Cardiac output is controlled by the heart rate, myocardial contractility, preload, and afterload. Vascular resistance (vascular hindrance × viscosity) is under local autoregulation and general neurohumoral control through sympathetic adrenergic innervation and circulating catecholamines. Sympathetic innovation predominates in organs receivingflowin excess of their metabolic demands (skin, splanchnic organs, kidney), while innervation is poor and autoregulation predominates in the brain and heart. The distribution of blood flow depends on the relative resistances of the organ circulations. During stress (hypoxia, low cardiac output), a raise in adrenergic tone and in circulating catecholamines leads to preferential vasoconstriction in highly innervated organs, so that blood flow is directed to the brain and heart. Catecholamines also control the levels of the vasoconstrictors renin, angiotensin II, and vasopressin. These general principles also apply to the neonate.


2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (6) ◽  
pp. R1580-R1585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Kaufman ◽  
Jody Levasseur

We have previously shown that intrasplenic fluid extravasation is important in controlling blood volume. We proposed that, because the splenic vein flows in the portal vein, portal hypertension would increase splenic venous pressure and thus increase intrasplenic microvascular pressure and fluid extravasation. Given that the rat spleen has no capacity to store/release blood, intrasplenic fluid extravasation can be estimated by measuring the difference between splenic arterial inflow and venous outflow. In anesthetized rats, partial ligation of the portal vein rostral to the junction with the splenic vein caused portal venous pressure to rise from 4.5 ± 0.5 to 12.0 ± 0.9 mmHg ( n = 6); there was no change in portal venous pressure downstream of the ligation, although blood flow in the liver fell. Splenic arterial flow did not change, but the arteriovenous flow differential increased from 0.8 ± 0.3 to 1.2 ± 0.1 ml/min ( n = 6), and splenic venous hematocrit rose. Mean arterial pressure fell (101 ± 5.5 to 95 ± 4 mmHg). Splenic afferent nerve activity increased (5.6 ± 0.9 to 16.2 ± 0.7 spikes/s, n = 5). Contrary to our hypothesis, partial ligation of the portal vein caudal to the junction with the splenic vein (same increase in portal venous pressure but no increase in splenic venous pressure) also caused the splenic arteriovenous flow differential to increase (0.6 ± 0.1 to 1.0 ± 0.2 ml/min; n = 8). The increase in intrasplenic fluid efflux and the fall in mean arterial pressure after rostral portal vein ligation were abolished by splenic denervation. We propose there to be an intestinal/hepatic/splenic reflex pathway, through which is mediated the changes in intrasplenic extravasation and systemic blood pressure observed during portal hypertension.


2012 ◽  
Vol 150 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 285-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miyoko Kasai ◽  
Takashi Miyazaki ◽  
Tsuneo Takenaka ◽  
Hiroyuki Yanagisawa ◽  
Hiromichi Suzuki

1998 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
pp. 1649-1654 ◽  
Author(s):  
John B. Buckwalter ◽  
Stephen B. Ruble ◽  
Patrick J. Mueller ◽  
Philip S. Clifford

The purpose of this study was to determine whether β-adrenergic or muscarinic receptors are involved in skeletal muscle vasodilation at the onset of exercise. Mongrel dogs ( n = 7) were instrumented with flow probes on both external iliac arteries and a catheter in one femoral artery. Propranolol (1 mg), atropine (500 μg), both drugs, or saline was infused intra-arterially immediately before treadmill exercise at 3 miles/h, 0% grade. Immediate and rapid increases in iliac blood flow occurred with initiation of exercise under all conditions. Peak blood flows were not significantly different among conditions (682 ± 35, 646 ± 49, 637 ± 68, and 705 ± 50 ml/min, respectively). Although the doses of antagonists employed had no effect on heart rate or systemic blood pressure, they were adequate to abolish agonist-induced increases in iliac blood flow. Because neither propranolol nor atropine affected iliac blood flow, we conclude that activation of β-adrenergic and muscarinic receptors is not essential for the rapid vasodilation in active skeletal muscle at the onset of exercise in dogs.


1963 ◽  
Vol 205 (2) ◽  
pp. 360-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis L. Abel ◽  
John H. Pierce ◽  
Warren G. Guntheroth

The effects of 30° head-down and head-up tilting on mean systemic blood pressure, carotid blood flow, and heart rate were studied in 16 dogs under morphine and Nembutal anesthesia. The tilting procedure was further repeated after denervation of the carotid sinus and aortic arch baroreceptors and after administration of a dihydrogenated ergot alkaloid mixture (Hydergine). The results indicate that the drop in pressure in the head-down position is primarily due to baroreceptor activity and that the baroreceptors are necessary for compensatory vasoconstriction on head-up tilting. Carotid blood flow decreased in both tilted positions in the control animals; the possible relationship to cerebral blood flow is discussed.


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