[Vasomotor reactions of the pulmonary circulation upon hypothalamic stimulation]

The blood flow in the lung lobe perfused under constant pressure was recorded with photoelectric drop recorder in acute closed-chest experiments in anesthetized dogs. Stimulation of supraoptic and lateral mamillary nuclei in most cases decreased flow rate and increased vascular resistance in perfused pulmonary lobe, while stimulation of sympatho-inhibitory area exerted opposite effect. Bilateral vagotomy and administration of atropin and inderal did not block the lesser circulation responses to the hypothalamic stimulation. However, phentolamine and bilateral ablation of stellate and upper thoracic ganglia eliminated chnages of blood flow and vascular resistance in the perfused lobe. The data obtained suggest that stimulation of some hypothalamic areas evoke obvious vasomotor responses in the lesser circulation and that these responses occur mainly through alpha-adrenergic sympathetic innervation of pulmonary vessels.