SympatheticControlbf Canine Abdominal Aorta

In anesthetized dogs the peripheral ends of the cut sympathetic chains (LGi-LG2 level) were stimulated while blood pressure was held constant artificially, and the diameter of the abdominal aorta was monitored. Bilateral stimulation induced a reduction in diameter that was directly related to the stimulation frequency. Maximal diameter reduction of the aorta above the iliac bifurcation averaged 8.01 ± 0.74* of resting diameter. The half-time of contraction (36.5 ±2 .1 to 51.5 ±3.6 seconds) was indirectly related to the stimulation frequency. The effects of right or left sympathetic chain stimulation were quantitatively similar to each other (51.3 ± 4.4% and 46.7 ± 4.5%, respectively), and the response to bilateral stimulation (92.8 ±6.1&) did not differ from the calculated value for paired unilateral stimulation (100%). A significant proximo-distal gradient of response (below the branching off of the renal arteries 2.97 ± 0.28%, at the midpoint 5.15 ± 0.52%, and above the iliac bifurcation 8.56 ± 0.79% of resting diameter) along the abdominal aorta was established during bilateral stimulation. Histochemical examination showed no corresponding differences in the density or the distribution of monoaminergic terminals. Dose-response relations for spiral strips taken from analogous aortic segments, however, displayed sensitivity to norepinephrine in the same order as the gradient in the in vivo experiments.