Carotid sinus distension and superior cervical ganglion transmission.
The functional relationship between sinusal distension and the sympathetic innervation of the feline carotid sinus was investigated by neurophysiological techniques. A balloon catheter was used to distend the sinus region while recording evoked postganglionic activity from the superior cervical ganglion. When the SCG was stimulated at 1.0 or 10.0/s, balloon inflation reduced postganglionic action potential height by 25-50% and increased ganglionic negativity. These effects were subsequently abolished by section of one of the remaining intact postganglionic trunks. This evidence suggests that a pressure-modulated reflex arc, similar to the intestinointestinal reflex, might exist between the carotid sinus and superior and cervical ganglion.
D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D001338:Autonomic Fibers, Postganglionic / Q000502:physiology; D002346:Carotid Sinus / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D002415:Cats; D003714:Denervation; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005246:Feedback; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000502:physiology*; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission