The aortic bodies supplied by coronary arteries in the dog. Their contribution to the hypertensive response that follows serotonin injection.

I assessed the role of the chemoreceptors (aortic bodies) supplied by the coronary arteries in the hypertensive response induced by left atrial injection of (200 microgram serotonin) in adult anesthetized dogs. I compared the pressor response induced by serotonin during normal coronary circulation with that during exclusion of the central coronary segments from which the coronary blood supply to the aortic bodies arises. Exclusion of the central segments reduced the pressor response significantly from the control responses. Exclusion of the coronary blood supply of the aortic bodies resulted in a reduction of the control response of more than 50% in only two of the 21 dogs. I conclude that although the aortic bodies supplied by the coronary arteries play a significant role in the total hypertensive response to injected serotonin, their role usually is not predominant.