Arterial compliance and its control by the baroreflex in hypertensive dogs

The effect of the carotid baroreflex on systemic arterial compliance was tested in normotensive and Goldblatt hypertensive dogs. After the development of experimental hypertension, dogs were acutely anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium and vagotomized. The carotid sinuses were then isolated and held at controlled carotid sinus pressures (CSP) of 50, 125, and 200 mmHg. The dogs were placed on constant flow, constant venous pressure, cardiopulmonary bypass. Arterial compliance was determined from the time constant of the exponential fall in arterial pressure, which occurred when the flow was stopped at three different levels of CSP. The reflex characteristic curve (mean arterial pressure vs. CSP) was shifted upward and to the right in the hypertensive group. Arterial compliance significantly decreased with decreasing CSP, but at any given level of CSP, arterial compliance was not different in the normotensive and hypertensive groups. A nonlinear analysis revealed that the arterial compliance-arterial pressure relationship was not altered by Goldblatt experimental hypertension. The results of this study indicate that the arterial compliance is primarily a function of the absolute level of arterial pressure. Baroreflex control of arterial compliance is important at lower levels of arterial pressure.