Reflex vascular responses from aortic arch, carotid sinus and coronary baroreceptors in the anaesthetized dog

In chloralose-anaesthetized dogs, pressure applied to coronary, carotid and aortic baroreceptors were changed independently and the resulting reflex vascular responses were determined. Increases in pressure to each group of baroreceptors resulted in reflex vasodilatation; the maximal responses to distension of carotid and coronary baroreceptors were significantly larger than those to aortic receptors, but not different from each other. Increases in pressure in all three regions induced maximal responses at similar times from the onset of the pressure stimulus. However, the time for recovery of vascular resistance following a decrease in baroreceptor pressure differed. Vasoconstriction following a period of coronary hypertension occurred slowly, requiring 70 s for 90% of the response to develop. This was significantly longer than the corresponding times for carotid and aortic receptors (about 28 s). The rate of vasoconstriction in response to coronary baroreceptor unloading was influenced by the period for which the pressure stimulus was applied and vasoconstriction was even slower when the pressure stimulus had been maintained for 8 min. The mechanism responsible for delaying the vasoconstriction following a period of coronary hypertension is not known, but this effect may have important implications for the control of arterial blood pressure.