The control of blood flow through the gills and the effects of a number of vasoactive drugs on blood flow and oxygen uptake in two Antarctic fish, Pagothenia borchgrevinki and Trematomus bernacchii

The extracorporeal loop technique was used to measure oxygen levels of the blood, pre and post-branchial blood pressure, heart rate, blood flow and from these measurements stroke volume of the heart and resistances to blood flow through the gills and the body was calculated. Two species of fish gills were used: Pagothenia borchgrevinki and Trematomus bernacchii. The effects of a number of vasocactive drugs on blood flow and oxygen uptake were determined. The drugs include acetylcholine and its blocker, adrenaline and its blockers, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) and its blockers and adenosine and its blockers.