Evidence of sympathetic augmentation mediated increase in the blood and the plasma volume following vagotomy.
Cervical vagotomy was performed bilaterally in three series, i.e. normal (untreated), atropine treated and propranolol treated animals. The classical effect of the nerve section on heart rate, arterial blood pressure and respiration respectively were verified in the three series to confirm the reproducibility of the findings. The pre- and post-vagotomy plasma volume and haematocrit were estimated and thus the blood volume was calculated in each animal. The investigation indicated that: The interruption of vagal sensory information reflexively expanded the plasma and blood volume. This information was normally tonically active and inhibitory in nature. The volume expansion after vagotomy was brought about by stimulation of autonomic nerves, most probably the sympathetic nerves. These three conclusions suggested that expansion of vascular capacity as well as blood and plasma volume was controlled through vagal sensory information.
D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001810:Blood Volume; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D010953:Plasma Volume; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D014628:Vagotomy
D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D001285:Atropine; D011433:Propranolol