Summary
The changes of activity in cutaneous and visceral sympathetic efferents during asphyxia were simultaneously examined in anesthetized, paralyzed, artificially ventilated rabbits. In all cases an increase of activity in the splanchnic nerve and a simultaneous decrease of activity in the cutaneous (ear) sympathetic branch were observed during asphyxia. The decrease of cutaneous sympathetic activity was closely related with an increase of ear blood flow.
The decrease of cutaneous sympathetic activity represents a regional sympathetic response which is antagonistic to the hitherto known excitation of the sympathetic system by asphyxia. This antagonism is, however, not a manifestation of an invariable pattern of sympathetic activity. A stronger asphyctic stress led to an increase of activity in the cutaneous sympathetic branch as in other sections of the sympathetic system. An increase of activity in the cutaneous sympathetic branch was likewise observed during asphyxia, if its activity had been reduced before by a central heat stimulus.
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Iriki, M., Walther, O.E., Pleschka, K. et al. Regional cutaneous and visceral sympathetic activity during asphyxia in the anesthetized rabbit. Pflugers Arch. 322, 167–182 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00592296
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00592296