Effect of bilateral vagotomy on arterial acid-base stability during panting in the pigeon

Bilateral, cervical vagotomy denervates, among other receptors, the known peripheral chemoreceptors in birds. To test the importance of afferent vagal input to cardiorespiratory control during thermal panting, we measured responses to an increase in body temperature (Tb) induced by ambient heating in 6 bilaterally, cervically vagotomized pigeons. These responses were compared with those we previously reported in intact pigeons (control animals). At thermoneutral conditions, respiratory frequency (fR) was lower after vagotomy compared to controls, and PaCO2 was higher. During increases in Tb in both control and vagotomized pigeons, fR, PaO2, pHa, heart rate and oxygen consumption increased, and PaCO2 decreased. However, fR rose less, PaCO2 decreased more, and pHa increased more in the vagotomized pigeons than in controls. All three were more variable than in controls. Heart rate and blood pressure were higher than controls; blood pressure was more variable. We conclude that bilateral, cervical vagotomy compromises the ability of pigeons to maintain stable respiratory and cardiovascular responses to hyperthermia.