Effects of twenty-four hours of bed rest with head-down tilt on cardiopulmonary baroreflex control: preliminary study

The cardiopulmonary baroreflex response was studied before and after 24 h bed rest with head-down tilt (-5 degrees) in six normal male subjects, through lower body negative pressure (-5, -10, -15 mmHg) and passive leg raising. The reflex response was assessed (using plethysmography) by changes in forearm vascular resistance. During the lower body negative pressure and leg raising, forearm vasoconstriction and vasodilation were similar before and after head-down tilt. The study shows that orthostatic intolerance following head-down tilt is not explained by an abnormality in the response of low pressure baroreceptors.