Mesenteric baroreceptors

Abstract

Occlusion of the mesenteric vessels in the cat and injection of catecholamines produced significant changes in skin and muscle blood flows. These were abolished by cutting the mesenteric nerves. The occurrence of systemic pressure and peripheral resistance changes in cross-perfused mesenteric preparations indicates that hemodynamic factors alone, such as might result from occlusion of a large vascular region, were not initiating the reflex. This also excludes extramesenteric receptors within the heart and large vessels from the reflex. Since both intravascular pressure and catecholamines have been shown to modify Pacinian receptor discharge in vivo, the evidence suggests that the mesenteric Pacinian corpuscle is the baroreceptor probably initiating the vasomotor reflexes in skin and muscle. The net effect of mesenteric receptor activity appears to be an inhibition of vasomotor neurons supplying skin and muscle.