Systemic arterial baroreceptors in ducks and the consequences of their denervation on some cardiovascular responses to diving

1. In the duck systemic arterial baroreceptors which cause bradycardia in response to induced hypertension are located in the walls of the ascending aorta, innervated by the depressor nerves. 2. The location of the baroreceptors was confirmed both histologically and by recording activity from the depressor nerve. Stimulation of the central cut end of a depressor nerve caused transient bradycardia and a fall in blood pressure which was maintained throughout the period of stimulation. 3. Cardiovascular adjustments to submergence of 2 min duration were monitored in intact, sham‐operated and denervated ducks. The sham‐operated and denervated ducks were used in the experiments some 20–50 days post‐operation. The denervations were checked at post‐mortem. 4. In the first series of experiments on young ducks mean arterial pressure during a 2 min dive fell by 30% in intact, 17·5% in sham‐operated, and 48% in denervated ducks. In all ducks heart rate was reduced by 84–85%. 5. In a second series of experiments on older ducks sciatic artery blood flow was also recorded and mean arterial blood pressure fell by 9·2% in intact and by 53% in denervated animals, although there were no significant differences in heart rate during the 2 min dives. In normal animals sciatic vascular resistance increased after 2 min submergence by 7·86 ± 1·7 times, whereas in denervated ducks it increased by only 2·32 ± 0·5 times. 6. The role of systemic arterial baroreceptors in generation of the cardiovascular responses to submergence in ducks is discussed in terms of the input supplied by the baroreceptors to the central nervous system.