Angiotensin I and II in the assessment of baroreceptor function in fetal and neonatal sheep

In fetal and neonatal sheep intravenous injections of angiotensin I, angiotensin II and noradrenaline each increased mean blood pressure and decreased heart rate in a dose-dependent manner. Blood pressure responses to given doses of angiotensin I and II were larger in neonatal than fetal animals while the reverse was true for noradrenaline. In both sheep groups angiotensin II was more pressor than angiotensin I. Baroreceptor function was assessed by correlating blood pressure response to angiotensin II with corresponding changes in either heart rate or heart period. A more sensitive baroreceptor reflex was found in the fetal group in that a given blood pressure response resulted in a significantly larger bradycardia and the calculated gain of the reflex was higher. In those fetuses subjected to either bilateral vagotomy or cervical cord transection pressor responses to both angiotensin II and noradrenaline were enhanced but a significant change was only seen in the cervical cord transection fetuses. Heart rate responses to these drugs were essentially unchanged in the cervical cord transected fetuses while in vagotomized fetuses the bradycardia with each drug was replaced by a tachycardia. It is concluded that the baroreflex is more active in the fetus than the neonate and is mediated by autonomic effector mechanisms similar to those found in the adult.