Factors affecting movement of excitatory substances from pulmonary capillaries to type J receptors of anaesthetized cats

Abstract

1. Using phenyl diguanide (PDG) as an excitatory substance, the role of certain factors that could influence the movement of such substances across the pulmonary capillaries to the J receptors was studied in cats anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone. This was aided by using a new method for estimating continuously in vivo the concentration (C) of PDG in the blood of the pulmonary artery. 2. Reduction of pulmonary blood flow by partial occlusion of the inferior vena cava enhanced the responses of the J receptors to PDG significantly in twelve out of thirteen trials. These effects, which occurred at a time when pulmonary capillary pressure (PCP) had fallen, could be related to the increase in the estimated mean C of PDG over the first 3 s or to the C t (concentration × time) area to 50% of peak C. The responses bore no relation to peak C or rate of rise of C. 3. The responses of the receptors to PDG increased significantly after three out of eight injections of PDG while the PCP was raised by partial occlusion of the mitral orifice; reduced responses were recorded after two injections. These results, showing relatively much weaker stimulation by PDG in spite of the enhanced level of J receptor excitability produced by the raised PCP itself, suggest that movement of PDG out of the capillaries to the J receptors must be influenced primarily by forces governing diffusion, not filtration. 4. In addition to C of PDG there appear to be other factors that influence the responses of the receptors to PDG.