Type A atrial receptors in the cat: effects of changes in atrial volume and contractility

1. Action potentials were recorded from filaments of the right cervical vagus in anaesthetized, paralysed cats. Right atrial receptors with type A (twelve units) and Intermediate type (two units) patterns of spontaneous discharge were selected and their responses to changes in atrial volume were analysed. 2. Changes in atrial volume of similar magnitude were produced under four different conditions: a, innervated hearts; b, denervated hearts; c, depression of atrial muscle contractility induced after cardiac denervation and d, non-beating hearts. 3. In innervated hearts the systolic discharge of each receptor showed a characteristic response to changes in atrial volume. Cardiac denervation and depression of atrial contractility markedly altered this response in terms of frequency of discharge threshold and 'sensitivity'. 4. During increments in atrial volume all the receptors but one assumed an Intermediate pattern of discharge. The diastolic firing rate was, however, higher for any given atrial pressure, in innervated hearts than under conditions b, c and d. 5. In innervated hearts the response of the receptors to atrial systole was characterized by a higher frequency of discharge and a lower threshold with respect to the responses of the same receptors to atrial filling. These differences were minimized at high atrial volumes and during depression of atrial contractility. 6. The results indicate that the responses of the receptors to atrial systole are mainly dependent upon the state of contraction of atrial muscle and that the differences between systolic and diastolic discharge are mainly due to the high dynamic component of the stretch during atrial contraction.