DOPAMINE-INDUCED VENTILATORY DEPRESSION IN THE RAT, MEDIATED BY CAROTID NERVE AFFERENTS
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Date
1981
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Abstract
In pentobarbitone-anesthetized rats, i.v. injections of dopamine (DA) at 10-8-10-5 g/kg led to transient ventilatory depression, usually not associated with changes in systemic arterial pressure. DA-induced ventilatory depression consisted of decreases in tidal volume and respiratory frequency in 12 rats and in bradypnea without changes in tidal volume in 5 rats. After bilateral section of the carotid nerves, ventilatory responses to DA were abolished or greatly diminished. DA evidently inhibits carotid body chemosensory discharges in the rat. Chemosensory activity may directly affect respiratory frequency.