Reflex control of the tracheal vasculature of sheep.

Arteries to the cervical trachea were perfused at constant flow in anesthetized sheep. Perfusion pressures (PP), blood pressure (BP), and changes in tracheal smooth muscle tone (Ptr) were measured. Stimulation of pulmonary C-fiber receptors decreased PP (-6.5%) and BP (-16.8%) and increased Ptr (+61.5%), changes prevented by vagotomy and therefore reflex. Stimulation of cardiac receptors and slowly adapting pulmonary stretch receptors decreased PP (-7.9%) and BP (-21.0) and increased Ptr (+19.0%), changes reversed by vagotomy and therefore reflex. Stimulation and inhibition of slowly adapting pulmonary stretch receptors had no vagal-dependent effect on PP and BP, but inflation decreased (-20.3%) and deflation increased Ptr (+35.2%), effects abolished by vagotomy and therefore reflex. Systemic hypoxia increased PP and BP before and after vagotomy (+12.2 and +40.3%), effects greatly reduced by cutting the carotid body nerves; it increased Ptr (+29.8%), an effect abolished by vagotomy and cutting the carotid body nerves. Systemic hypercapnia increased PP (+16.9%), BP (+20.5%), and Ptr (+36.2%), the first two responses being unaffected by vagotomy and the last almost abolished. Stimulation of carotid body chemoreceptors by KCN increased PP (+22.5%), BP (+104.7%), and Ptr (+8.5%), all responses prevented by cutting the carotid body nerves. Responses to intravenous injections of KCN were similar.