Alteration of baroreceptor and chemoreceptor reflexes in spontaneously hypertensive rats

1. Electrical stimulation of the aortic depressor nerve elicited depressor and bradycardiac responses in both spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats, but in spontaneously breathing animals responses were weaker in SHR than in WKY. 2. Responses did not significantly differ in artificially ventilated animals except that high stimulation intensity elicited significantly greater bradycardiac responses in WKY. A decrease in ventilatory rate occurred in both strains. 3. Electrical stimulation of the carotid sinus nerve (CSN) elicited an initial pressor response followed by a depressor response with a minimal change in heart rate in either strain. The pressor response in SHR was greater than in WKY. Depressor responses in SHR were weaker than those in WKY with or without artificial ventilation. CSN stimulation increased ventilatory rate in both strains but the frequency-related responses differed at higher stimulation intensity. 4. These results suggest that there are alterations in the function of central or afferent components of chemoreceptor and baroreceptor reflexes in SHR in addition to previously described structural changes at the level of peripheral sensory receptors.