Effect of artificial respiratory volume on the cardiovascular responses to an alpha 1- and an alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist in the air-ventilated pithed rat.

1. The effect of varying artificial respiratory volume (at a fixed rate of 54 min-1) on cardiac output, its distribution and tissue blood flows were determined with tracer microspheres in control pithed rats or during pressor responses to either the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine or the alpha 2-agonist xylazine. Phenylephrine was investigated in the presence of propranolol (3 mg kg-1). The rats were pithed under halothane anaesthesia. 2. A respiratory volume of 15 ml kg-1 produced modest hypercapnia (PaCO2 = 47 mmHg), hypoxia (PaO2 = 60 mmHg) and acidosis (pH = 7.35) relative to control animals respired at 20 ml kg-1 (PaCO2 = 32 mmHg; PaO2 = 77 mmHg; pH = 7.47). In rats respired at 15 ml kg-1, total peripheral resistance was lower, and cardiac output greater (due to increased stroke volume), than in the controls. Lowering respiratory volume reduced distribution of cardiac output to the kidneys, increased it to the large intestine and also increased blood flow through the gastrointestinal tract, skin and spleen. A respiratory volume of 30 ml kg-1 gave mild hypocapnia (PaCO2 = 19 mmHg), hyperoxia (PaO2 = 101 mmHg) and alkalosis (pH = 7.59) compared to 20 ml kg-1 but had no effect on cardiac output distribution or organ blood flow although heart rate was 29% greater at 30 ml kg-1. 3. Xylazine (500 micrograms bolus followed by 100 micrograms min-1 infusion) at all three respiratory volumes gave well-sustained mean pressor responses of 62-64 mmHg by increasing both total peripheral resistance and cardiac output (resulting from increased stroke volume). It increased the proportion of cardiac output passing to the liver, reduced that going to the spleen and gastrointestinal tract and increased cardiac, renal and hepatosplanchnic blood flows. 4. The secondary, relatively sustained, pressor effect of phenylephrine (5 micrograms bolus followed by 0.4 micrograms min-1 infusion, i.v.) varied at the 3 respiratory volumes with mean values from 32 to 53 mmHg. This response was due to both increased total peripheral resistance and cardiac output (resulting from greater stroke volumes and/or heart rates). Phenylephrine increased the proportion of cardiac output passing to the gastrointestinal tract, heart, kidneys and hepatosplanchnic bed and increased cardiac, hepatosplanchnic, renal and gastrointestinal blood flows. 5. Respiratory volume had no effect on the cardiovascular effects of xylazine. However, respiratory volume modified the effects of phenylephrine on heart rate and changed the relative contributions of stroke volume and heart rate to the increased cardiac output. It also influenced the effects of phenylephrine on cardiac output distribution to the liver, epididimides and hepatosplanchnic bed and on blood flow through skeletal muscle and the large intestine. 6. Changes in respiratory volume of air ventilated pithed rats thus influence cardiac output, its distribution and regional blood flows. Such changes can also differently influence the responses of various vascular beds to phenylephrine whilst having no effect on their responses to xylazine.