Effect of carotid chemoreceptor stimulation on plasma antidiuretic hormone titer

Abstract

Experiments have been performed in anesthetized dogs to evaluate the role of the carotid chemoreceptors in the regulation of the plasma concentration of antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Chemoreceptor stimulation was achieved by perfusion of an isolated carotid sinus with deoxygenated blood. Carotid chemorecptor stimulation in dogs breathing spontaneously was without a statistically significant effect on the plasma ADH titer. However, in vagotomized, open-chest, artificially ventilated dogs, chemoreceptor stimulation resulted in an increase in the plasma ADH level. This effect appeared to be greater when mean arterial blood pressure was prevented from rising by bleeding from an artery during the period of chemoreceptor stimulation. The bleeding per se did not appear to contribute to the response, since in experiments in vagotomized, artificially ventilated dogs in whicl 1-norepinephrine was infused intravenously, bleeding to hold mean arterial pressure constant was without effect on the plasma concentration of ADH. It is concluded that stimulation of the carotid chemoreceptors results in an increased release of ADH.