Role of active changes in venous capacity by the carotid baroreflex: analysis with a mathematical model

To elucidate the role of venous capacity active changes in short-term cardiovascular homeostasis, a mathematical model of the carotid-sinus baroreflex system has been developed. In the model the cardiovascular system is represented as the series arrangement of six lumped compartments, which synthesize the fundamental hemodynamic properties of the systemic arterial, systemic venous, pulmonary arterial, and pulmonary venous circulations as well as of the left and right cardiac volumes. Cardiac outputs from the left and right ventricles are computed as a function of both downstream arterial pressure (afterload) and upstream atrial pressure (preload). Four distinct feedback regulatory mechanisms, working on systemic arterial resistance, heart rate, systemic venous unstressed volume, and systemic venous compliance, are assumed to operate on the cardiovascular system in response to carotid sinus pressure changes. All model parameters, both in the cardiovascular system and in feedback regulatory mechanisms, have been assigned on the basis of physiological data now available. The model is used here to simulate the pattern of the main hemodynamic quantities in the short time period (1-2 min) after acute carotid sinus activation in vagotomized subjects. Simulation results indicate that the model can reproduce experimental data quite well, with reference both to open-loop experiments and to an acute blood hemorrhage performed in closed-loop conditions. Moreover, computer simulations indicate that active changes in venous unstressed volume are of primary importance in regulating cardiac output and systemic arterial pressure during activation of the carotid sinus baroreflex.