Effects of acetylcholine and sodium cyanide on cat carotid baroreceptors

1 The effects of intracarotid (i.a.) injections of acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium cyanide (NaCN) on baroreceptor activity recorded from the sinus nerve have been investigated in cats anaesthetized with pentobarbitone.2 Two types of baroreceptor unit were recorded. The predominant type discharged at least 3 to 4 spikes per pulse wave at normal BP; they are referred to as ;polyspike' units and may have been associated with A fibres. The other type discharged a maximum of 1 to 3 spikes per pulse wave, even at high BP; they are referred to as ;few-spike' units and may have been from C fibres.3 NaCN had no direct effect on either type of baroreceptor unit, even when injected in high doses (2.04 to 5.1 mumol i.a.) which cause maximal chemoreceptor stimulation, and it is concluded that as far as the cat's carotid baroreceptors and chemoreceptors are concerned, NaCN is a specific chemoreceptor stimulant.4 ACh had no direct effect on polyspike baroreceptor units unless very high doses (1.83 mumol i.a.) were injected, when there was occasionally a transient slight increase in discharge. This effect appeared to be secondary to muscle contraction caused by ACh since it was not seen when an adequate neuromuscular-blocking dose of gallamine had been administered.5 ACh stimulated the few-spike type of baroreceptor unit, an effect which was dose-related and lasted for up to 3 s; the threshold dose for baroreceptor stimulation was higher than that needed to excite chemoreceptor units. The increased discharge also occurred during experiments in which gallamine had been administered. Only five of these units were recorded during the investigation, despite an intensive search for them.6 There was a delayed increase in baroreceptor sensitivity following the administration of ACh in doses (37 to 366 nmol i.a.) which had no immediate direct effect on polyspike baroreceptor discharge. The effect was evidently not secondary to changes in sympathetic nerve activity to the sinus region since it was observed during an experiment in which the ganglioglomerular nerves had been cut. Whether the increased sensitivity resulted from direct or indirect actions of ACh remains to be determined.7 It is concluded that low doses of ACh or other drugs with nicotinic properties are unlikely to evoke baroreceptor reflexes on intracarotid injection, although they may cause delayed changes in baroreceptor sensitivity. Higher doses of ACh do not directly affect baroreceptor polyspike (A fibre) units, but transient baroreflex changes might result from stimulation of baroreceptor few-spike (C fibre) units. It is most unlikely that NaCN has any direct effect on baroreceptor reflex activity when injected into the carotid artery in doses used to elicit chemoreceptor reflexes.