Surgical excision of the canine carotid bodies and denervation of the aortic bodies

A method of obviating the carotid and aortic body chemoreceptor response has been presented consisting of excision of the carotid bodies and denervation of the aortic body or bodies. The physiological responses of these animals to high altitude acclimatization are characterized by a marked increase in erythrocyte volume, a decrease in plasma volume, and a minimal increase in total blood volume. The respiratory response to anoxia is markedly decreased and the sensitivity to inspired CO 2 at high altitude is unchanged from that at sea level.