Carotid sinus control of pulsatile hemodynamics in halothane-anesthetized dogs

The open-loop characteristics of the carotid sinus baroreceptor reflex control of pulsatile arterial pressure-flow relations were studied in halothane-anesthetized dogs. Pressures and flows were measured in the ascending aorta, the celiac, mesenteric, renal, and iliac arteries and were used to compute values of regional vascular impedance and hydraulic power. The carotid sinuses were bilaterally isolated and perfused under conditions of controlled mean pressure with a constant sinusoidal component. Measurements were made with the vagi intact and after bilateral vagotomy. Maximum values of open-loop gain averaged -0.78 +/- 0.08 before and -1.42 +/- 0.20 after vagotomy. Vagotomy produced significant increases in the variation of all hemodynamic variables with carotid sinus pressure that were nonuniformly affected in the various regional vascular beds. Aortic and regional vascular impedance showed significant variations with carotid sinus pressure that were augmented by vagotomy. Aortic impedance exhibited a minimum at the normal set point. These results indicate that a) carotid sinus baroreflexes are well preserved with halothane anesthesia, b) thoracic baroreceptor-mediated reflexes exert significant hemodynamic effects on systemic hemodynamics around normal set point values of arterial pressure, c) systemic baroreceptors exert control over large as well as small vessel properties, and d) the baroreceptor-mediated reflexes produce significant influences on hydraulic power and its components.