Effect of carotid body denervation on breathing in neonatal goats

The objective of the present study was to determine in goats whether carotid body denervation (CBD) at 1–3 days of age causes permanent changes in breathing greater than those that occur after CBD in adult goats. Goats underwent CBD (n = 6) or sham CBD (n = 3) surgery at 1–3 days of age. In addition, one unoperated control animal was studied. Bolus intravenous injections of NaCN 2 days postsurgery verified successful CBD surgery. However, at 3, 11, and 18 mo of age, the CBD goats had regained a NaCN response that did not differ (P > 0.10) from that of intact goats. Intracarotid NaCN injections elicited a hyperpnea in the sham CBD but not the CBD goats. Only one animal exhibited highly irregular breathing [characterized by prolonged (>9-s) apneas] after CBD, and the irregularity disappeared by 3 mo of age. One CBD goat died at 35 days of age, and autopsy revealed that death was associated with pneumonia. After 3 mo of age, there were no statistically significant differences (P > 0.10) between sham and CBD ...