QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s):
Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Axelsson, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Axelsson, M.

Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol 137, Issue 1 287-301, Copyright © 1988 by Company of Biologists

JOURNAL ARTICLES

The importance of nervous and humoral mechanisms in the control of cardiac performance in the Atlantic cod Gadus morhua at rest and during non-exhaustive exercise

M Axelsson
Department of Zoophysiology, University of Goteborg, Sweden.

The nervous regulation of heart rate and stroke volume in the Atlantic cod Gadus morhua was investigated both in vivo, during rest and exercise, and in vitro. The cholinergic and adrenergic influences on the heart were estimated in experiments with injections of atropine and sotalol. At rest the cholinergic and adrenergic tonus on the heart were 38% and 21%, respectively (ratio 1.81:1). At the end of an exercise period, the cholinergic tonus had decreased to 15% but the adrenergic tonus had increased to 28% (ratio 0.54:1). The results suggest that variation of the cholinergic tonus on the heart is a major factor in the regulation of the heart rate. In one group of fish, cardiac output was also measured, allowing calculation of stroke volume. Cardiac output increased significantly during exercise, and this effect persisted in the presence of both atropine and sotalol, although the increase in heart rate was reduced or abolished. The persisting increase in cardiac output during exercise is due to an increase in stroke volume, reflecting a Starling relationship. In the presence of the adrenergic neurone-blocking agent bretylium, a positive inotropic effect on isolated, paced atrial and ventricular strips was observed. In the atrial preparations the effect persisted after 24 h. The effect was prevented by pretreatment with sotalol or cocaine, but potentiated by phentolamine pretreatment. This shows that bretylium exerts its neurone-blocking action after being taken up into the adrenergic nerves, and suggests that the positive inotropic effect of bretylium observed in vivo is due to release of endogenous catecholamines. The concentration-response curves for adrenaline on isolated spontaneously beating atrial preparations showed that the concentrations of catecholamines necessary to produce appreciable effects on the heart are higher than the concentrations found in cod plasma during 'stress' situations (handling and exhaustive swimming).

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. B. Schack, H. Malte, and P. T. Madsen The responses of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) to ultrasound-emitting predators: stress, behavioural changes or debilitation? J. Exp. Biol., July 1, 2008; 211(13): 2079 - 2086. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. C. Mendonca, A. G. Genge, E. J. Deitch, and A. K. Gamperl Mechanisms responsible for the enhanced pumping capacity of the in situ winter flounder heart (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, November 1, 2007; 293(5): R2112 - R2119. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. E. Franklin, W. Davison, and F. Seebacher Antarctic fish can compensate for rising temperatures: thermal acclimation of cardiac performance in Pagothenia borchgrevinki J. Exp. Biol., September 1, 2007; 210(17): 3068 - 3074. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Sandblom and M. Axelsson Adrenergic control of venous capacitance during moderate hypoxia in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): role of neural and circulating catecholamines Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, September 1, 2006; 291(3): R711 - R718. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Gollock, S. Currie, L. H. Petersen, and A. K. Gamperl Cardiovascular and haematological responses of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) to acute temperature increase J. Exp. Biol., August 1, 2006; 209(15): 2961 - 2970. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Sandblom, A. P. Farrell, J. Altimiras, M. Axelsson, and G. Claireaux Cardiac preload and venous return in swimming sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) J. Exp. Biol., May 15, 2005; 208(10): 1927 - 1935. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. A. Clow, K. J. Rodnick, T. J. MacCormack, and W. R. Driedzic The regulation and importance of glucose uptake in the isolated Atlantic cod heart: rate-limiting steps and effects of hypoxia J. Exp. Biol., May 1, 2004; 207(11): 1865 - 1874. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. A. Campbell, E. W. Taylor, and S. Egginton The use of power spectral analysis to determine cardiorespiratory control in the short-horned sculpin Myoxocephalus scorpius J. Exp. Biol., May 1, 2004; 207(11): 1969 - 1976. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Seebacher and C. E. Franklin Control of heart rate during thermoregulation in the heliothermic lizard Pogona barbata: importance of cholinergic and adrenergic mechanisms J. Exp. Biol., March 14, 2002; 204(24): 4361 - 4366. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Wang, E. W. Taylor, D. Andrade, and A. S. Abe Autonomic control of heart rate during forced activity and digestion in the snake Boa constrictor J. Exp. Biol., March 12, 2002; 204(20): 3553 - 3560. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. E. GALLAUGHER, H. THORARENSEN, A. KIESSLING, and A. P. FARRELL EFFECTS OF HIGH INTENSITY EXERCISE TRAINING ON CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTION, OXYGEN UPTAKE, INTERNAL OXYGEN TRANSPORT AND OSMOTIC BALANCE IN CHINOOK SALMON (ONCORHYNCHUS TSHAWYTSCHA) DURING CRITICAL SPEED SWIMMING J. Exp. Biol., March 10, 2002; 204(16): 2861 - 2872. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]