BRANCHIAL RESPONSES TO ADRENALINE AND TO PITRESSIN IN THE EEL

Abstract

By the use of the ventral aorta-gill perfusion with constant perfusion pressure it is shown that adrenaline has a marked vasodilator effect on the gills of Anguilla vulgaris, although the same concentration of adrenalin causes constriction of the systemic vessels. The behavior thus resembles that of the coronaries, which are of branchial origin. At the same time branchial chloride secretion is decreased or abolished, an effect probably due to increased permeability accompanying dilatation. Pitressin has no consistent effect on vessel calibre or chloride secretion.