Summary
The response of the stretch receptors of the frog's lung to inflation together with pulmonary volume and pressure have been quantitatively evaluated by counting the action potentials led off from the vagus nerve in isolated lung-vagus preparations. It is seen that sustained and repeated inflations deeply change the mechanical properties of the lung and the receptors response to inflation. The response of the receptors, however, appears to be constantly and linearly related with the “tension” of the pulmonary wall considered as a stretched elastic lamina. It is concluded that tension of the pulmonary wall is the natural stimulus for the receptors of the frog's lung. Adaptation of the receptors to the stimulus appeared to be negligible over the inflation period.
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This study was supported by grants from the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Impresa Elettrofisiologia), Roma (Italy).
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Taglietti, V., Casella, C. Stretch receptors stimulation in frog's lungs. Pflügers Archiv 292, 297–308 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00363198
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00363198