THE EFFECT OF ATROPINE ON THE CORONARY BLOOD FLOW OF TRAINED DOGS WITH DENERVATED AND PARTIALLY DENERVATED HEARTS

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Abstract
In the present study the response of the coronary blood flow and heart rate to atropine sulfate was observed after the following operative procedures: (1) right and left sympathetic ganglionectomy from the 8th or 9th intercostal space anteriorly including the stellate ganglion; (2) double vagotomy in the neck; (3) a combination of procedures 1 and 2. In the absence of the sympathetic nerves, as in procedure 1, atropine caused increases of 25-85% in coronary flow and an increase in pulse rate of a similar magnitude. Atropine was without effect on the coronary blood flow, heart rate or blood pressure of vagotomized animals or animals with denervated hearts. The increased coronary blood flow following injs. of atropine is not owing to a direct effect of the drug on the wall of the blood vessel nor is it due to changes of blood pressure. The augmented coronary flow follows the inhibition of vagal tone and is associated with the resulting increased cardiac rate. The increased heart rate itself is evidently responsible for the increased coronary blood flow following adm. of atropine but the mechanism by which it is accomplished is not apparent.

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