Regional circulations in experimental coarctation of the aorta in conscious dogs

Regional blood flows were measured with radioactive microspheres in 35 conscious dogs at various times (between 1 h and 28 days) after creation of a stenosis of the descending thoracic aorta. Mean arterial pressure increased moderately proximal to the stenosis. Distally, arterial pressure decreased below control values immediately after stenosis, then returned gradually toward preconstriction values over 28 days. Plasma renin activity increased sixfold, after aortic constriction of 1 and 6 h, and remained significantly elevated for four days. Blood volume did not change significantly. In some of the vascular beds exposed to the elevated proximal pressure, significant increases in blood flow were noted in the early stages, mainly in the myocardium, the brain, the skeletal muscles and the bones. After 28 days, however, blood flows were significantly reduced in most tissues exposed to the proximal pressure. At this stage, vascular conductance was significantly decreased in the myocardium, the brain, the muscles, the skin and the bones as compared with a sham-operated control group. Several vascular beds perfused by the distal arterial pressure also showed a significant fall in flow after 28 days, notably the small intestine, the skin, the skeletal muscles and the bones. At that stage, vascular conductance was decreased in the small intestine, the muscles, the skin and the bones. Thus, aortic coarctation in dogs was characterized by a late generalized increase in vascular resistance extending to tissues which were never exposed to increased arterial pressure nor to an increased blood flow. These findings suggest that a systemic vasoconstrictor influence overrides local mechanisms in the control of regional circulations in coarctation hypertension.