Pulmonary vasomotor nerve responses in isolated perfused lungs of Macaca mulatta and Papio species.

Abstract

1. Lung lobes of Macaca mulatta and Papio species were isolated from the body and perfused by a pump delivering a constant volume inflow. The left atrial pressure was kept constant and therefore any recorded change in pulmonary arterial pressure reflected a change in pulmonary vascular resistance. 2. In five Macaca mulatta preparations stimulation of the upper thoracic sympathetic chain, the stellate ganglion, the middle cervical ganglion and the thoracic vagosympathetic nerve caused a small increase in calculated pulmonary vascular resistance usually followed by a larger decrease. Evidence is produced which suggests that the depressor response is mediated by adrenergic beta-receptors. In three preparations no change in pulmonary vascular resistance occurred. 3. In four Papio preparations stimulation of similar nerves invariably caused an increase in calculated pulmonary vascular resistance. In one animal no change in vascular resistance occurred. 4. A regression analysis of the results showed an inverse relationship between the magnitude of the pulmonary vascular response to nerve stimulation and the degree of excitement of the animals during capture, restraint and anaesthesia (P less than 0.01).