THE EFFECT OF ADRENALINE ON LEFT AURICULAR PRESSURE

¹ The Department of Physiology, University of Leeds

Experiments have been carried out which demonstrate the different factors which affect the pressure changes in the left auricle when adrenaline is injected.

These are seen to be the action of the vagus, of the right ventricle, of the pulmonary vessels, of the left ventricle, of the anaesthetic and of the artificial respiration.

After the vagi have been cut it is usual to get a fall in left auricular pressure with adrenaline. This fall is shown to be due largely to constriction of the pulmonary vessels by the adrenaline ; often, but not always, supplemented by increased action of the left ventricle.

This research was assisted by a grant from the British Medical Association.

I wish to thank Messrs, Parke, Davis and Co., for their kindness in providing me with adrenaline for the investigation.