Function of cardiac receptors

Abstract

Stimulation of right and left atrial receptors causes an increase in activity in sympathetic nerves to the sinoatrial node resulting in an increase in heart rate, a decrease in activity in nerves to the kidney, with an unknown effect, and a diuresis caused by blood borne agent which is said to be a reduction in the concentration of antidiuretic hormone. It is concluded that it is a reasonable speculation that atrial receptors are the first link in a negative feedback mechanism controlling heart volumes, i.e., if the heart volumes increase for whatever reason then the heart rate and urine flow increase and the heart volumes become smaller again. It has been shown that the atrial receptors discharge less in dogs with chronic heart failure than in normal dogs even though the atrial pressures are higher in dogs with heart failure. This effect of less atrial receptor discharge may be causative in relation to the known increase in extracellular liquid in heart failure. However, it may be a result of the heart failure. These speculations require further investigation.