Spinal sympathetic reflexes in the cat and the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension

1. In vagotomized anaesthetized cats with both common carotid arteries occluded, stretch of the thoracic aorta induced reflex increases in arterial blood pressure, heart rate and left ventricular dP/dtmax. Similar responses were obtained in cats with spinal transection at the level of the first cervical nerve roots. 2. The hypothesis is advanced that sympathetic excitatory reflexes may contribute to the maintenance of hypertension through positive feedback.