title: Water potential receptors in the skin regulate blood perfusion in the ventral pelvic patch of toads.
abstract: Blood cell flux (BCF) in ventral pelvic skin capillaries was measured in conscious unrestrained Bufo bufo, using a laser Doppler flowcytometer. Hydrated toads responded to water contact with a small but significant increase in BCF. Dehydration alone did not change the BCF in seat patch skin before water contact. However, water contact by dehydrated toads elicited a rapid 600% increase in BCF. The BCF and water uptake of dehydrated toads rehydrating in water declined over 2 h but remained significantly above the low, constant values measured in hydrated toads. Arginine vasotocin injection in hydrated toads did not change skin BCF, but water uptake increased, and urine production decreased. Injection of the beta -adrenergic agonist isoproterenol increased BCF in hydrated toads by 900% and also increased the rate of water uptake. These increases corresponded in magnitude and duration to the response to water contact observed in dehydrated toads. Injection of dehydrated toads with the beta -adrenergic antagonist propranolol significantly reduced both BCF and water uptake. These results are consistent with an autonomic reflex mediated by skin water potential receptors that regulate blood perfusion of ventral pelvic skin.
authors.affiliation: Zoophysiological Laboratory, August Krogh Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 13, DK-2100, Copenhagen O, Denmark. alviborg@aki.ku.dk
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Viborg
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rosenkilde
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001834:Body Water / Q000502:physiology*; D002023:Bufo bufo / Q000502:physiology*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000502:physiology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D013997:Time Factors; D014668:Vasotocin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011433:Propranolol; D007545:Isoproterenol; D014668:Vasotocin