This Article Full Text Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vacca, G. Articles by Molinari, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vacca, G. Articles by Molinari, C. Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Hazardous Substances DB ATROPINE PENTOBARBITAL PHENTOLAMINE PROPRANOLOL HYDROCHLORIDE

(Circulation. 1996;94:2201-2209.)
© 1996 American Heart Association, Inc.

Articles

Reflex Coronary Vasoconstriction Caused by Gallbladder Distension in Anesthetized Pigs

Giovanni Vacca, MD, PhD; Antonio Battaglia, MD; Elena Grossini, MD; David A.S.G. Mary, MD, PhD; Claudio Molinari, MD, PhD

the Laboratorio di Fisiologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Facolta di Medicina e Chirurgia di Novara, Universita di Torino, Novara, Italy.

Correspondence to Prof G. Vacca, Facolta di Medicina e Chirurgia, via Solaroli 17, I-28100 Novara, Italy.

Background Gallbladder distension in anesthetized pigs reflexly increases heart rate and arterial pressure by means of afferent vagal pathways and efferent sympathetic mechanisms. The effect of such distension on the coronary circulation is unknown. The present study was undertaken to determine whether gallbladder distension primarily causes reflex changes in left circumflex blood flow.

Methods and Results In 21 pigs anesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone (16) or -chloralose (5), left circumflex blood flow was measured with an electromagnetic flowmeter. A balloon positioned within the gallbladder was distended with volumes of Ringer's solution equal to the volumes of bile previously withdrawn (mean vol: 62 mL; mean gallbladder pressure: 12 mm Hg). Heart rate and arterial pressure were kept constant by atrial pacing and by a pressurized reservoir connected to the left femoral artery. Gallbladder distension always caused a decrease in circumflex blood flow. In 6 of the 16 sodium pentobarbitone–anesthetized pigs, this decrease was graded by step increments of distension. In 5 of these 16 pigs, the decrease in circumflex blood flow was not affected by atropine. In 10 of these 16 pigs, including those given atropine, the response was not affected by propranolol but was abolished by subsequently giving phentolamine. Cervical vagotomy abolished the coronary vasoconstriction in the remaining 6 pigs. In the 5 -chloralose–anesthetized pigs, the response was not significantly affected by cutting the splanchnic nerves but was abolished by subsequent cervical vagotomy.

Conclusions The present study showed that innocuous distension of the gallbladder in anesthetized pigs caused a reflex coronary vasoconstriction that involved efferent sympathetic mechanisms related to -adrenoceptors and afferent vagal pathways.

Key Words: blood flow • gallbladder • reflex • vagus nerve

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Molinari, E. Grossini, D. A. S. G. Mary, F. Uberti, E. Ghigo, F. Ribichini, N. Surico, and G. Vacca Prolactin Induces Regional Vasoconstriction through the {beta}2-Adrenergic and Nitric Oxide Mechanisms Endocrinology, August 1, 2007; 148(8): 4080 - 4090. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C Molinari, A Battaglia, E Grossini, D A S G Mary, C Vassanelli, and G Vacca The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on coronary blood flow in prepubertal anaesthetized pigs J. Physiol., June 15, 2003; 549(3): 937 - 944. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C Molinari, A Battaglia, E Grossini, D A S G Mary, C Vassanelli, and G Vacca The effect of testosterone on regional blood flow in prepubertal anaesthetized pigs J. Physiol., August 15, 2002; 543(1): 365 - 372. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T.-M. Lee, S.-F. Su, W.-Y. Suo, C.-Y. Lee, M.-F. Chen, Y.-T. Lee, and C.-H. Tsai Distension of urinary bladder induces exaggerated coronary constriction in smokers with early atherosclerosis Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, December 1, 2000; 279(6): H2838 - H2845. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T.-M. Lee, S.-F. Su, M.-F. Chen, and C.-H. Tsai Acute effects of urinary bladder distention on the coronary circulation in patients with early atherosclerosis J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., August 1, 2000; 36(2): 453 - 460. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Molinari, E. Grossini, D. A. S. G. Mary, and G. Vacca Effect of Distension of the Gallbladder on Plasma Renin Activity in Anesthetized Pigs Circulation, May 30, 2000; 101(21): 2539 - 2545. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G Vacca, A Battaglia, E Grossini, D A S G Mary, C Molinari, and N Surico The effect of 17{beta}-oestradiol on regional blood flow in anaesthetized pigs J. Physiol., February 1, 1999; 514(3): 875 - 884. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. J. Duncker, R. Stubenitsky, and P. D. Verdouw Autonomic Control of Vasomotion in the Porcine Coronary Circulation During Treadmill Exercise : Evidence for Feed-Forward ß-Adrenergic Control Circ. Res., June 29, 1998; 82(12): 1312 - 1322. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]