Stimulation of fetal breathing activity by beta-adrenergic mechanisms

Experiments were done on chronically prepared fetal lambs, 125-135 days gestation, to test the effects of various catecholamines on fetal breathing (FB) as well as the influence of isoproterenol on the fetal respiratory response to hypoxemia. Bolus injections of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and isoproterenol (5-20 micrograms) were administered via the lingual artery or femoral or jugular vein during periods of FB activity or apnea. The effects of epinephrine and norepinephrine on FB were variable and not statistically significant. Isoproterenol produced a significant increase in FB, frequency of breathing, and mean inspiratory effort, when infused during rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep but it failed to induce FB during non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep. The positive response during REM sleep was absent following pretreatment with 3-5 mg propranolol and after bilateral section of the sinus nerves. The effect of hypoxia on FB was tested before and during constant infusion of isoproterenol (1 microgram/min iv). A reduction of the fetal arterial PO2 by 3-10 Torr produced the characteristic depression of FB in either situation. These results indicate that the fetal carotid body chemoreceptors can reflexly stimulate FB under certain circumstances but that their effectiveness is limited by more powerful inhibitory mechanisms such as those operative during NREM sleep and hypoxemia.