The effect of hypercapnia on the vagal component of the baroreflex

An infulence of asphyxia and central hypercapnia was studied. It was shown that the vagal cardiac baroreflexes are enhanced in these conditions. Central hypercapnia exerts some influence on the investigated reflex independly on the peripheral baroreceptors. Modulation of the reflex during respiratory cycle became lower under conditions of asphyxia despite the marked increase in the respiratory drive. The last fenomen was interpreted on the basis of Zieliński -- Btocki model of the neuron.