Fetal breathing, sleep state, and cardiovascular responses to adenosine in sheep.

Abstract

The possibility that adenosine mediates hypoxic inhibition of fetal breathing and eye movements was tested in nine chronically catheterized fetal sheep (0.8 term). Intracarotid infusion of adenosine (0.25 +/- 0.03 mg.min-1.kg-1) for 1 h to the fetus increased heart rate and hemoglobin concentration but did not significantly affect mean arterial pressure or blood gases. As with hypoxia, adenosine decreased the incidence of rapid eye movements by 55% and the incidence of breathing by 77% without significantly affecting the incidence of low-voltage electrocortical activity. However, with longer (9 h) administration, the incidence of breathing and eye movements returned to normal during the adenosine infusion. Intravenous infusion of theophylline, an adenosine receptor antagonist, prevented most of the reduction in the incidence of breathing and eye movements normally seen during severe hypoxia (delta arterial PO2 = -10 Torr). It is concluded that 1) adenosine likely depresses fetal breathing and eye movements during hypoxia and 2) downregulation of adenosine receptors may contribute to the adaptation of breathing and eye movements during prolonged hypoxia.

• Authors: B J Koos, K Matsuda
• Journal: Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) (J Appl Physiol (1985)) Vol. 68 Issue 2 Pg. 489-95 (Feb 1990) ISSN: 8750-7587 [Print] United States
• PMID: 2108117 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Carbon Dioxide
• Theophylline
• Adenosine
• Oxygen

Topics

• Adenosine (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Blood Pressure (drug effects)
• Carbon Dioxide (blood)
• Cerebral Cortex (drug effects, physiology)
• Female
• Fetal Blood (analysis)
• Fetal Hypoxia (blood, physiopathology)
• Fetus (physiology)
• Heart Rate, Fetal (drug effects)
• Oxygen (blood)
• Pregnancy
• Respiration (drug effects)
• Sheep (physiology)
• Sleep, REM (drug effects)
• Theophylline (pharmacology)