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Journal of Experimental Biology 107,163-168 (1983)
Published by Company of Biologists 1983

Blood Pressure in the Leech Hirudo Medicinalis

BODO KRAHL ¹ and IRENE ZERBST-BOROFFKA ¹

¹ Institut für Tierphysiologie und Angewandte Zoologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Grunewaldestrasse 34, 1000 Berlin 41, Federal Republic of Germany

1. Intravascular pressure recordings in the lateral vessels of the leech, Hirudo medicinalis, show two distinct pressure patterns: high pressure phases (diastolic pressure: 5 ± 3 mmHg, systolic pressure: 48 ± 14mmHg) alternate with low pressure phases (diastolic pressure: 4 ± 2.5 mmHg, systolic pressure: 26 ± 11 mmHg).

2. The lateral vessel of one side produces high pressure pulses during peristaltic action while the other vessel generates low pressure pulses during non-peristaltic action. After 20–60 pulses a transition occurs, which sometimes appears more gradually.

Key words: Leech, blood pressure, heart beat coordination

Submitted on January 12, 1983
Accepted on March 30, 1983

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