Haemodynamic effects of distension of the descending colon in anaesthetized dogs

1. This study was undertaken to determine whether distension of the descending colon in anaesthetized dogs reflexly affects the heart rate, arterial blood pressure or the left ventricular inotropic state. 2. Experiments were performed on twenty-six dogs, which were anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone and artificially ventilated. A segment of the distal descending colon was isolated and was distended with warm Ringer solution at a steady intraluminal pressure. 3. In each animal, distension of the colon caused an increase in heart rate and aortic blood pressure. The response of an increase in heart rate was augmented by preventing changes in aortic blood pressure, and was graded in seven dogs by step increments in the distending pressure. In the same animals, distension of the colon always caused a small increase in left ventricular (dP/dt)(max) at constant heart rate and aortic blood pressure. 4. In four of the twenty-six dogs, cutting the pelvic nerves did not abolish the observed responses to the distension. In seven of the twenty-six dogs, which included the four animals with sectioned pelvic nerves, cutting the hypogastric nerves completely abolished all the observed responses. 5. In thirteen of the twenty-six dogs, propranolol or bretylium tosylate completely abolished the reflex increases in heart rate and left ventricular (dP/dt)(max), and phentolamine or bretylium tosylate abolished the reflex increase in aortic blood pressure. 6. These results showed that distension of the colon reflexly increased the heart rate, arterial blood pressure and left ventricular inotropic state. These reflex responses were mediated by sympathetic effects and their afferent limb involved the hypogastric nerves.