Cardiac receptors affect regional flow during acute infarction in conscious rats.

This study was conducted to determine if cardiac receptors have a role in the control of the regional circulations during small acute myocardial infarction in the conscious rat. Cardiocirculatory dynamics and cardiac output distribution (microspheres) were measured in conscious rats 24 and 48 h after surgery for left main coronary artery ligation or the sham procedure. Data from animals without treatment were compared to data from animals treated to induce chemical cardiac denervation (85% phenol applied to the supraventricular surface of the heart and the root of the great vessels). The results suggest that neurogenic vasopressor stimuli originating from the heart contribute to changes in peripheral resistance secondary to small, acute, experimentally induced myocardial infarction in the conscious rat.