Vagal inhibition of respiratory-linked efferent activity in the carotid sinus nerve.

The hypothesis tested in this study was that glossopharyngeal efferent nerve activity coursing through the carotid sinus nerve has a central origin. Efferent activity in the carotid sinus nerve exhibited a respiratory rhythm in spontaneously breathing, closed-chest, mongrel dogs anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (30 mg/kg iv). Carotid sinus nerve activity was recorded from the intact or cut central end of the carotid sinus nerve. Diaphragm electromyogram (D-EMG), carotid sinus pressure, systemic blood pressure, and electrocardiogram were also recorded. Before vagotomy, small increases in carotid sinus efferent nerve activity (CSENA) synchronous with increases in the D-EMG were observed during spontaneous inspiration. Section of the contralateral cervical vagosympathetic trunk markedly potentiated the increases in CSENA. Bilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy or nodose ganglionectomy failed to alter the increases in CSENA. Section of the ipsilateral glossopharyngeal nerve near the skull abolished the CSENA. This study demonstrates that respiratory-modulated glossopharyngeal efferents course through the carotid sinus nerve to the carotid sinus or carotid body. These efferents may be part of a central respiratory regulatory mechanism that may rapidly alter the sensitivity of the carotid sinus baroreceptors and/or carotid body receptors on a breath-to-breath basis.