A study of right and left atrial receptors

Electrophysiological evidence of baroreceptors in the pulmonary artery of the dog

“…The pattern of discharge recorded when one fibre was first placed on the electrodes is shown in Fig. 8A; the discrete burst of activity starting in the P-R interval might well have been recorded from a type A receptor in the atrium or great veins (Paintal, 1953). However, infusion of 200 ml.…”

The possible role of cardiac atrial stretch receptors in the induction of changes in urine flow

“…He deduced that the receptors were situated in the pulmonary circulation, a belief which appeared to be substantiated by the good correlation between pulmonary arterial pulse pressure and activity of the fibres (Pearce & Whitteridge, 1951). By mechanical stimulation at the site of the receptors Paintal (1953a) established, however, that they were in the atrial walls. He designated their fibres as type B to distinguish them from the earlier described venous fibres (Whitteridge, 1948;Neil & Zotterman, 1950; Dickinson, 1950), which were referred to as type A and which arise in receptors sensitive to pressure.…”

“…The technique of dissection of the vago-sympathetic trunk, with minor modifications, followed that already described (Whitteridge, 1948;Paintal, 1953a). The left cervical trunk was exposed through a mid-line incision; the flap of skin was retracted to form a trough which could be filled with warm liquid paraffin.…”

Proceedings of the Physiological Society

“…In some cases there was an early systolic discharge similar to that recorded from receptors in the pulmonary artery, in that the discharge ceased abruptly when the pulmonary conus was occluded and returned immediately after the vessel was released (Coleridge & Kidd, 1959); but, unlike the discharge from receptors in the main pulmonary arteries, itwas abolished when the lung roots were occluded. Several fibres showed a pattern of discharge similar to that observed in type A or B atrial fibres (Paintal, 1953). Changes produced, in some cases, by occlusion of the lung roots, the ascending or the descending aorta suggested that the receptors might be influenced by bronchial arterial pressure.…”

“…Subsequently, Paintal (1953) suggested that these 'pulmonary vascular' receptors were not situated in the small vessels of the lungs but in the right and left atria.…”