Myocardial catecholamines and ventricular performance during carotid artery occlusion

¹ Laboratory of Cardiovascular Physiology, National Heart Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland

Under conditions of constant cardiac output, heart rate, aortic pressure, and relatively constant coronary blood flow, carotid artery occlusion is associated with a significant decline in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, i.e., an increase of myocardial contractility. This decline in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure is significantly reversed by bilateral ansectomy. During carotid artery occlusion coronary venous catecholamines showed varying responses relative to the changes in arterial catecholamine levels. The results indicate that during carotid occlusion both increased myocardial utilization and release of catecholamines may occur.

Key Words: carotid occlusion and myocardial catecholamines • carotid occlusion and ventricular dynamics • dichloroisoproterenol coronary blood flow

Submitted on January 20, 1964