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Responses of slowly and rapidly adapting receptors in the airways of rabbits to changes in the Starling forces
1. The responses of the rapidly adapting receptors (RARs) and the slowly adapting receptors (SARs) of the airways to changes in the Starling forces regulating fluid exchange in the pulmonary extravascular space were investigated in anaesthetized rabbits. The hydrostatic pressure in the pulmonary mic...
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Published in: | The Journal of physiology 1991-01, Vol.432 (1), p.81-97 |
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Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | 1. The responses of the rapidly adapting receptors (RARs) and the slowly adapting receptors (SARs) of the airways to changes
in the Starling forces regulating fluid exchange in the pulmonary extravascular space were investigated in anaesthetized rabbits.
The hydrostatic pressure in the pulmonary microvasculature was raised by partial obstruction of the mitral valve (mean left
atrial pressure increased by approximately 5 and 10 mmHg above the control values) and the concentration of plasma proteins
was reduced by plasmapheresis (the total plasma protein concentration reduced by 18%). 2. There was a significant correlation
between the action potentials generated by RARs and mean left atrial pressure (n = 12). A similar response was not observed
in SARs (n = 12). 3. After plasmapheresis, there was an increase in the resting activity of the RARs (n = 5). In addition,
the stimulus-response curve relating mean left atrial pressure and RAR activity was significantly shifted to the left compared
to the one elicited before plasmapheresis. Plasmapheresis failed to influence the activity of SARs (n = 5). 4. Obstruction
of the pulmonary lymph flow by raising the afterload in the right external jugular vein caused a significant increase in the
activity of RARs (n = 6). This response was also maintained during the entire period of lymphatic obstruction. 5. The results
show that manipulation of the Starling forces within the lung influences the RAR activity profoundly. It is suggested that
the stimulus for the RARs may be a function of the fluid fluxes in the pulmonary extravascular space. |
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ISSN: | 0022-3751 1469-7793 |
DOI: | 10.1113/jphysiol.1991.sp018377 |