Rodent cardiovascular responses to baroreceptor unloading: effect of plane of anaesthesia

The objective of this study was to determine whether a plane of urethane-α-chloralose anaesthesia that suppresses motor reflexes would affect baroreflex cardiovascular control relative to a plane of anaesthesia that leaves motor reflexes intact. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were anaesthetized to either a light (motor reflexes intact) or deep (motor reflexes suppressed) plane of anaesthesia. Animals were exposed to graded (-2 to -10 mm Hg) lower body negative pressure while heart rate, vascular resistance, and mean arterial pressure were assessed. No between-group differences were observed in baseline hemodynamics. Graded lower body negative pressure progressively increased heart rate (p < 0.01) and vascular resistance (p < 0.001) and reduced mean arterial pressure (p < 0.001) similarly in light and deep planes of anaesthesia. Therefore, the deep plane of anaesthesia was not associated with a degradation of the autonomic response to baroreceptor unloading beyond that observed at the light plane. These data support the use of urethane-α-chloralose anaesthesia in studies examining reflex cardiovascular control concomitant with some degree of noxious stimulation.