Baroreceptor reflex control of heart rate in angiotensin type 1A receptor knockout mice

The baroreceptor reflex dampens the short-term fluctuations in blood pressure by feedback modulation of heart rate (HR) and vascular resistance. Impairment of this reflex has been observed in hypertension and heart failure. Angiotensin II, a blood borne hormone, acts via its type 1A receptor to attenuate the baroreceptor reflex and this reflex is reported to be dramatically altered in angiotensin type 1A receptor knockout mice. This study sought to further investigate changes in the arterial and cardiopulmonary baroreceptor reflex control of HR in angiotensin II type 1A receptor knocked out mice. In artificially ventilated, isoflurane anesthetized mice, the arterial and cardiopulmonary baroreceptor reflexes were activated via injection or slow infusions, respectively, of phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside through the jugular vein. We observed no impairment of either the arterial or cardiopulmonary baroreceptor reflex control of HR in angiotensin type 1A receptor knockout mice.