Reflex cardiac effects of local cutaneous cold exposure in dogs

Cardiovascular responses initiated by local cutaneous cooling were evaluated in 16 anesthetized dogs of which 8 were pretreated with propranolol. Heart rate, cardiac index (CI), and indices of ventricular contractility were significantly elevated in untreated animals during cold stimulation. Myocardial oxygen uptake (MVo2) and left ventricular work (LVW) were also increased, and cardiac mechanical efficiency was significantly reduced. Total peripheral vascular resistance remained unchanged. In the propranolol group, heart rate decreased by 12 beats/min, but CI was maintained constant during cold by a rise in stroke index. Left ventricular dP/dtmax was reduced and ventricular preload elevated, but LVW, MVo2, and cardiac efficiency were unchanged. These data indicate that local cutaneous cooling increases myocardial oxygen demand by reflexly elevating heart rate and cardiac contractility rather than by increasing cardiac afterload. The response is completely eliminated by beta-adrenergic blockade. The significance of these observations in regard to the cold-intolerant individual with coronary disease is discussed.