Influence of carotid denervation on the body-core temperature and metabolic responses to changes in ambient temperature during normoxemia and acute hypoxemia in guinea pigs during postnatal maturation

Abstract

Acute hypoxemia produces a decrease in body-core temperature (Tbc) in guinea pigs during postnatal maturation, although the factors mediating the response remain unknown. Experiments were therefore carried out to test the hypothesis that the carotid chemoreceptors and (or) baroreceptors mediate the decrease in Tbc during acute hypoxemia. Twelve guinea pigs, six carotid intact and six carotid denervated, were studied in a metabolic chamber to determine the influence of carotid denervation on the Tbc and metabolic (i.e., oxygen consumption) responses to changes in ambient temperature during normoxemia and during acute hypoxemia at 2, 3, and 4 weeks of age. Carotid denervation accentuated the decrease in Tbc in response to a decrease in ambient temperature during normoxemia at 2 and 3 weeks of age but not at 4 weeks of age without altering the metabolic response. This suggests that carotid denervation disrupted heat conservation mechanisms rather than heat production mechanisms in an age-specific manner. Furthermore, carotid denervation accentuated the decrease in Tbc and oxygen consumption in response to acute hypoxemia at all ages studied. This provides evidence that the carotid chemoreceptors and (or) baroreceptors do not mediate the decrease in Tbc that occurs in response to acute hypoxemia in guinea pigs during postnatal maturation.