Effect of veratridine injected into the aortic root on resistance and capacitance in the abdominal circulation in anaesthetized dogs.

In dogs anaesthetized with chloralose, cardiac receptors were stimulated by injections of veratridine into the aortic root and the effects studied on resistance and capacitance in the vascularly isolated and perfused abdominal circulation. Unless carotid sinus pressure was high, veratridine injections consistently resulted in dilatation of resistance and capacitance vessels. However, at high carotid pressures, the resistance response to veratridine was inhibited and the capacitance response was usually reversed. These results indicate that stimulation of cardiac receptors can affect resistance and capacitance in the abdominal circulation. Further experiments are required to evaluate the physiological role of these responses.