Further Studies of the Cerebral Chemoreceptor Buffers as Influenced by Vasoconstrictor and Vasodilator Drugs and Veratrum Viride

Abstract

These experiments extend our studies on the newly described cerebral chemoreceptors to show that most pressor drugs cause peripheral hypotension when perfused through the brain of the animal isolated except for nervous connections with its body. Depressor drugs usually act oppositely and cause hypertension. The cerebral chemoreceptors thus seem to act as a buffer mechanism. The receptors may be inactivated to some drugs without blocking the neurogenic hypertension response elicited by cerebral ischemia. Veratrum viride is shown to be such a drug. Besides initiating the von Bezold reflex, veratrum lowers blood pressure by direct central action.