Carotid vascular receptors and control of adrenal corticosteroid secretion

Abstract

The effects of bilateral carotid arterial constriction on secretion rates of 17-hydrocorticosteroids (17OHCS) were studied in dogs with adrenal venous cannulas following bilateral cervical vagotomy or femoral nerve section. Carotid constriction stimulated secretion of 17OHCS maximally 2 and 4-6 hr. after vagotomy, but not after femoral nerve section. Denervation of carotid sinuses attenuated but did not prevent increased secretion of 17OHCS after carotid constriction in vagotomized dogs. Combined denervation of carotid sinuses and thyrocarotid arterial junctions prevented increased secretion of 17OHCS after carotid constriction. Combined denervation also reduced markedly adrenal sensitivity to ACTH on the day following denervation. Reduction of sensitivity to ACTH was prevented by administration of 100 mU ACTH at 3-4 P. M. on the day of denervation. The results indicate that receptors at the carotid sinuses and thyrocarotid junctions mediate the increased secretion of 17OHCS which follows carotid constriction in the vagotomized dog. The results suggest in addition that these receptors are involved in the modulation of release of ACTH during the resting state.