Bronchial circulation: An auto-perfusion method for assessing its vasomotor activity and the study of alpha-and beta-adrenoceptors in the bronchial artery

A new technique of autoperfusion has been devised for the study of the vasomotor activity of the bronchial artery. The artery is perfused with autologous blood from the femoral artery at a constant flow rate, therefore a change in the perfusion pressure can be related to a change in the active tension of the vascular wall. The method was employed in assessing the effect of α-and β-adrenoceptor stimulations and α- and β-adrenoceptor blockades. The results clearly show both α- and β-adrenoceptors exist in the bronchial artery.