Afferent pathways for cardiac-somatic motor reflexes in rats

The present study used a rat model in which algogenic chemicals were infused into the pericardial sac to evoke spasmlike contractions in paraspinal muscles. The following techniques were used to study the roles of sympathetic (SCA) and vagal cardiac afferents (VCA) in electromyographic (EMG) responses to pericardial algogenic chemicals: chemical stimulation, electrical stimulation, and nerve transection. Activation with bradykinin (n = 46) produced a significantly higher peak response than infusion of an algogenic mixture (n = 53) containing chemicals that also activate VCA. Electrical stimulation of SCA produced bilateral EMG activities (7 of 7). Electrical stimulation of VCA did not evoke EMG activity but inhibited the chemically evoked EMG response (12 of 12). The chemically evoked response was decreased after transection of the left sympathetic chain (n = 22) and was increased after bilateral vagotomy (n = 19). These results suggest an excitatory and inhibitory role for SCA and VCA, respectively. Therefore, in addition to spinothalamic convergence of somatic and visceral afferents, activation of SCA to generate spasmlike muscle contractions could account in part for anginal pain, and VCA activation could attenuate this effect.