Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Local oxygen tension field in the glomus caroticum of the cat and its change at changing arterialPO2

  • Published:
Pflügers Archiv Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

  1. 1.

    The distribution of oxygen tension has been measured in the carotid body of 97 cats using platinum microelectrodes. In only seven cats was there evidence from measurement of chemoreceptor afferent discharge in the sinus nerve of damage to carotid body tissue or blood vessel. 11 carotid bodies were histologically controlled, 2 showed obvious damages of the puncture.

  2. 2.

    The distribution of oxygen tension in carotid body tissue was consistent with very few exceptions and consisted of a relatively highPO2 (ca. 25–90 mm Hg) at the greatest distance from the surface progressively falling toward the surface where there was a zone of low oxygen tension, 0–15 mm Hg and then a barrier to the inward diffusion of oxygen.

  3. 3.

    This pattern of oxygen tension distribution was altered to the point of reversal following death of the animal and following injections of antimycin into the common carotid artery. The surface barrier to oxygen could also be reduced or abolished with antimycin and local destruction of tissue by electrolysis.

  4. 4.

    The frequency distribution of tissuePO2 showed that 79% of all values obtained were less than 40 mm Hg. The local tissuePO2 and the distribution ofPO2 was systematically altered by changes inPaO2, the alterations being least conspicuous in the outer zone of lowPO2.

  5. 5.

    These results provide some evidence that blood flow through the carotid body is far from homogeneous. The various mechanisms which may be involved are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acker, H. A., Lübbers, D. W., Purves, M. J.: O2-transfer in der Bindegewebskapsel des Glomus caroticum der Katze und seine funktionelle Bedeutung. Pflügers Arch.316, R 30 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartels, H., Reinhardt, W.: Einfache Methode zur Sauerstoffdruckmessung im Blut mit einer kunststoffüberzogenen Platinelektrode. Pflügers Arch. ges. Physiol.271, 105–114 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  • Biscoe, T. J., Bradley, G. W., Purves, M. J.: The relation between carotid body chemoreceptor discharge, carotid sinus pressure and carotid body venous flow. J. Physiol. (Lond.)208, 99–120 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Castro, F. de: Sur la structure et l'innervation de la glande intercarotidienne (glomus caroticum) de l'homme et des mammifères, et sur un nouveau système d'innervation autonome du nerf glosopharyngien. Trab. Lab Invest. biol. Univ. Madrid24, 365–432 (1928).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cross, B. A., Silver, I. A.: Some factors affecting oxygen tension in the brain and other organs. Proc. roy. Soc B156, 483–499 (1962).

    Google Scholar 

  • Daly, M. de B., Lambertsen, C. J., Schweitzer, A.: The volume of blood flow of the carotid body of the cat. J. Physiol. (Lond.)125, 67–89 (1954).

    Google Scholar 

  • Diemer, K.: Capillarization and oxygen supply to the brain. In: Oxygen transport in blood and tissue. Ed. D. W. Lübbers, U. C. Luft, G. Thews, and E. Witzleb. Stuttgart: Thieme 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eyzaguirre, C., Koyano, H.: Effects of hypoxia, hypercapnia and pH on the chemoreceptor activity of the carotid body in vitro. J. Physiol. (Lond.)178, 385–409 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Grunewald, W.: Diffusionsfehler und Eigenverbrauch der Pt-Elektrode beipO2-Messungen im steady state. Pflügers Arch.320, 24–44 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutman, J.: Die rheographische Direktmessung — ein methodischer Fortschritt für die Diagnose von Durchblutungsstörungen und für Zeitmessungen am Kreislauf. Klin. Wschr.45, 251–255 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, M.: Normale und kritische O2-Versorgung der Leber bei Normo- und Hypothermie, Habil. Schrift, Marburg 1967.

  • Kunze, K.: Sauerstoffdruckfeld im normalen und pathologischen Muskel. Habil.-Schrift, Gießen 1967.

  • Leichtweiss, H.-P., Lübbers, D. W., Weiss, Ch., Baumgärtl H., Reschke, W.: The oxygen supply of the rat kidney: measurements of intrarenalPO2. Pflügers Arch.309, 328–349 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lübbers, D. W.: Kritische Sauerstoffversorgung und Mikrozirkulation. Marburg. Jb.1966/67, 305–319.

  • —: The meaning of the, tissue oxygen distribution curve and its measurement by means of Pt electrodes. In: Progress in Respiration Research, pp. 112–123. F. Kreuzer Ed. Basel-New York: Karger 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  • — Baumgärtl, H., Fabel, H., Huch, A., Kessler, M., Kunze, K., Riedmann, H., Seiler, D., Schuchhardt, S.: Principle of construction and application of various platinum electrodes. In: Progress in Respiration Research. pp. 136–146. Ed. F. Kreuzer, Ed. Basel-New York: Karger 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mills, E., Jöbsis, F. F.: Simultaneous measurement of cytochrome a3 reduction and chemoreceptor afferent activity in the carotid body. Nature (Lond.)225, 1147–1149 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Neil, E., O'Regan, R. G.: Effects of sinus and aortic nerve efferents on arterial chemoreceptor function. J. Physiol. (Lond.)200, 69 P (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Niedorf, H. R.: Die normale und pathologische Anatomie des Glomus caroticum. Med. Welt21, 251–257 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Purves, M. J.: The effect of hypoxia, hypercapnia and hypotension upon carotid body blood flow and oxygen consumption in the cat. J. Physiol. (Lond.)209, 395–416 (1970a).

    Google Scholar 

  • —: The role of the cervical sympathetic nerve in the regulation of oxygen consumption of the carotid body of the cat. J. Physiol. (Lond.)209, 417–431 (1970b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sampson, S. R., Biscoe, T. J.: Efferent control of the carotid body chemoreceptor. Experientia (Basel)26, 261–262 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuchhardt, S.: Statik und Dynamik der Sauerstoffversorgung des Herzens. Habil-Schrift, Bochum1971.

  • Silver, I. A.: Some observations on the cerebral cortex with an ultramicromembrane covered oxygen electrode. Med. Electron. Biol. Engin.3, 377–387 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • Speckman, E. J., Caspers, H.: Messung des Sauerstoffdruckes mit Platinmikroelektroden im Zentralnervensystem. Pflügers Arch.318, 78–84 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Staubesand, J., Genschow, C.: Die arterio-venösen Anastomosen im Löffel des Kaninchens nach graphischen Rekonstruktionen. Z. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch.116, 446–457 (1952).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Arbeitsphysiologie, Dortmund

    H. Acker, D. W. Lübbers & M. J. Purves

  2. Department of Physiology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

    H. Acker, D. W. Lübbers & M. J. Purves

  3. Max-Planck-Institut für Arbeitsphysiologie, Rheinlanddamm, 201, D-4600, Dortmund, West Germany

    H. Acker & D. W. Lübbers

Authors
  1. H. Acker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. W. Lübbers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. J. Purves
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Acker, H., Lübbers, D.W. & Purves, M.J. Local oxygen tension field in the glomus caroticum of the cat and its change at changing arterialPO2 . Pflugers Arch. 329, 136–155 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00586988

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00586988

Key-Words

Search

Navigation