Carotid body control of coronary flow, myocardial oxidative metabolism, and cardiac catecholamines in the dog.

In a series of 11 dogs, selective stimulation of the carotid body receptors by hypoxic, hypercapnic, acidotic blood produces bradycardia, an increase of coronary flow, and greater release of norepinephrine from the heart; the coronary resistances are decreased. The same stimulation after vagotomy is no longer accompanied by bradycardia; the decrease of coronary resistance is less marked and the release of norephinephrine is increased.