Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The Journal of Physiology logoLink to The Journal of Physiology
. 1980 Sep;306:519–536. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1980.sp013412

Search for a cardiac nociceptor: stimulation by bradykinin of sympathetic afferent nerve endings in the heart of the cat.

D G Baker, H M Coleridge, J C Coleridge, T Nerdrum
PMCID: PMC1283021  PMID: 7463375

Abstract

1. We have examined the effect of bradykinin on impulse traffic in sympathetic afferent fibres from the heart, great vessels and pleura, and have attempted to identify cardiac nociceptors that on the basis of their functional characteristics might have a role in the initiation of cardiac pain. 2. In anaesthetized cats, we recorded afferent impulses from 'single-fibre' slips of the left 2nd--5th thoracic rami communicantes and associated chain, and selected fibres arising from endings in the heart, great vessels, pericardium and pleura. We applied bradykinin solution (0 . 1--1 . 0 microgram/ml.) locally to the site of the ending; we also injected bradykinin (0 . 3--1 . 0 microgram/kg) into the left atrium. 3. Afferent endings excited by bradykinin (159 of 191 tested) were of two types. The larger group (140) were primarily mechanoreceptors with A delta of C fibres (mean conduction velocity, 7 . 5 +/- 0 . 6 m/sec). They were very sensitive to light touch. Those located in the heart, great vessels or overlying pleura had a cardiac rhythm of discharge and were stimulated by an increase in blood pressure or cardiac volume. 4. Bradykinin increased mechanoreceptor firing from 0 . 7 +/- to 5 . 0 +/- 0 . 3 (mean +/- S.E. of mean) impulses/sec. Some endings appeared to be stimulated directly by bradykinin, others sensitized by it so that they responded more vigorously to the pulsatile mechanical stimulation associated with the cardiac cycle. 5. The smaller group of eighteen endings, of which ten were in the left ventricle, were primarily chemosensitive. Most had C fibres, a few had A delta fibres (mean conduction velocity, 2 . 3 +/- 0 . 7 m/sec). They were insensitive to light touch. With one exception they never fired with a cardiac rhythm, and even large increases in aortic or left ventricular pressure had little effect on impulse frequency. 6. Chemosensitive endings were stimulated by bradykinin, impulse activity increasing from 0 . 6 to 15 . 6 +/- 1 . 3 impulses/sec and remaining above the control level for 1-3 min. The evoked discharge, which was either continuous or occurred in irregular bursts, was not secondary to mechanical changes in the heart and great vessels. 7. Tachyphylaxis occurred when the interval between successive applications of bradykinin was 20 min or less. It was a feature of the response of both mechanosensitive and chemosensitive endings. 8. Because of their responsiveness to changes in pressure and their sensitivity to light touch, the mechanosensitive endings appear to be unlikely to subserve a primarily nociceptive function, although they may be responsible for evoking some of the components of the pseudoaffective response. By contrast, the chemosensitive endings appear well fitted to act as cardiac nociceptors.

Full text

PDF
519

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Banzett R. B., Coleridge H. M., Coleridge J. C., Kidd C. Proceedings: Multi-terminal afferent fibres from the thoracic viscera in sympathetic rami communicantes of cats and dogs. J Physiol. 1976 Jan;254(1):57P–58P. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Beck P. W., Handwerker H. O. Bradykinin and serotonin effects on various types of cutaneous nerve fibers. Pflugers Arch. 1974 Mar 11;347(3):209–222. doi: 10.1007/BF00592598. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Brown A. M. Excitation of afferent cardiac sympathetic nerve fibres during myocardial ischaemia. J Physiol. 1967 May;190(1):35–53. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1967.sp008191. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Brown A. M., Malliani A. Spinal sympathetic reflexes initiated by coronary receptors. J Physiol. 1971 Feb;212(3):685–705. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009350. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Casati R., Lombardi F., Malliani A. Afferent sympathetic unmyelinated fibres with left ventricular endings in cats. J Physiol. 1979 Jul;292:135–148. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1979.sp012842. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. ELLIOTT D. F., HORTON E. W., LEWIS G. P. Actions of pure bradykinin. J Physiol. 1960 Oct;153:473–480. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1960.sp006548. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Kaufman M. P., Baker D. G., Coleridge H. M., Coleridge J. C. Stimulation by bradykinin of afferent vagal C-fibers with chemosensitive endings in the heart and aorta of the dog. Circ Res. 1980 Apr;46(4):476–484. doi: 10.1161/01.res.46.4.476. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Kaufman M. P., Coleridge H. M., Coleridge J. C., Baker D. G. Bradykinin stimulates afferent vagal C-fibers in intrapulmonary airways of dogs. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol. 1980 Mar;48(3):511–517. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1980.48.3.511. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Kimura E., Hashimoto K., Furukawa S., Hayakawa H. Changes in bradykinin level in coronary sinus blood after the experimental occlusion of a coronary artery. Am Heart J. 1973 May;85(5):635–647. doi: 10.1016/0002-8703(73)90169-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Lioy F., Malliani A., Pagani M., Recordati G., Schwartz P. J. Reflex hemodynamic responses initiated from the thoracic aorta. Circ Res. 1974 Jan;34(1):78–84. doi: 10.1161/01.res.40.4.78. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Malliani A., Pagani M. Afferent sympathetic nerve fibres with aortic endings. J Physiol. 1976 Dec;263(2):157–169. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1976.sp011626. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Malliani A., Recordati G., Schwartz P. J. Nervous activity of afferent cardiac sympathetic fibres with atrial and ventricular endings. J Physiol. 1973 Mar;229(2):457–469. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1973.sp010147. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Nishi K., Sakanashi M., Takenaka F. Activation of afferent cardiac sympathetic nerve fibers of the cat by pain producing substances and by noxious heat. Pflugers Arch. 1977 Nov 25;372(1):53–61. doi: 10.1007/BF00582206. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. SLEIGHT P. A CARDIOVASCULAR DEPRESSOR REFLEX FROM THE EPICARDIUM OF THE LEFT VENTRICLE IN THE DOG. J Physiol. 1964 Oct;173:321–343. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1964.sp007459. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Staszewka-Barczak J., Ferreira S. H., Vane J. R. An excitatory nociceptive cardiac reflex elicited by bradykinin and potentiated by prostaglandins and myocardial ischaemia. Cardiovasc Res. 1976 May;10(3):314–327. doi: 10.1093/cvr/10.3.314. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Uchida Y., Murao S. Acid-induced excitation of afferent cardiac sympathetic nerve fibers. Am J Physiol. 1975 Jan;228(1):27–33. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1975.228.1.27. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Uchida Y., Murao S. Bradykinin-induced excitation of afferent cardiac sympathetic nerve fibers. Jpn Heart J. 1974 Jan;15(1):84–91. doi: 10.1536/ihj.15.84. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Uchida Y., Murao S. Excitation of afferent cardiac sympathetic nerve fibers during coronary occlusion. Am J Physiol. 1974 May;226(5):1094–1099. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1974.226.5.1094. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Uchida Y., Murao S. Potassium-induced excitation of afferent cardiac sympathetic nerve fibers. Am J Physiol. 1974 Mar;226(3):603–607. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1974.226.3.603. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Ueda H., Uchida Y., Kamisaka K. Distribution and responses of the cardiac sympathetic receptors to mechanically induced circulatory changes. Jpn Heart J. 1969 Jan;10(1):70–81. doi: 10.1536/ihj.10.70. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Vogt A., Vetterlein F., dal Ri H., Schmidt G. Excitation of afferent fibres in the cardiac sympathetic nerves induced by coronary occlusion and injection of bradykinin. The influence of acetylsalicylic acid and dipyron. Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther. 1979 May;239(1):86–98. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. WHITE J. C. Cardiac pain: anatomic pathways and physiologic mechanisms. Circulation. 1957 Oct;16(4):644–655. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.16.4.644. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Physiology are provided here courtesy of The Physiological Society

RESOURCES