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Updated: Sep 27, 2026

A Method of Nodose Ganglia Injection in Sprague-Dawley Rat
Published on: November 25, 2014
Carotid sinus nerve chemosensory response to dopamine and acetylcholine in catecholamine depleted cats
1Unité de recherche en périnatologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Hôpital Saint François d'Assise, Université Laval, Quebec, Que., Canada. aida.bairam@crsfa.ulaval.edu
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to determine the role of endogenous dopamine (DA) and the combined effect of DA and acetylcholine (ACh) on the carotid sinus nerve chemosensory discharge (CSND). CSND was measured in vivo in 6 control cats and 6 cats pre-treated with reserpine and alpha-methyl-paratyrosine [catecholamine depleted group: CAD] during infusions of DA and DA+ACh. In normoxia, CSND was similar between CAD's and controls. DA induced CSND depression was transient in controls but sustained in CAD's. Addition of ACh increased CSND in both groups. In hypoxia (8% O(2) in N(2)), the dynamic CSND response was slowed by DA in CAD's but not controls. Addition of ACh increased this response in both groups. Neither DA nor DA+ACh altered the steady state hypoxic CSND in either group. It is concluded that endogenous DA is important in expressing the dynamic characteristics of both the response to exogenous DA and the response to hypoxia under constant DA infusion. The study also confirms the opposing effects of exogenous DA and ACh on the normoxic CSND.
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