Effects of carotid sinus nerve stimulation at different times in the respiratory and cardiac cycles on variability of heart rate and blood pressure of normotensive and renal hypertensive dogs

Abstract

It was the purpose of the present study to determine (1) whether or not there exists a common respiratory and cardiac cycle time effect of the baroreceptor control of heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) in spontaneously breathing anaesthetized dogs and (2) whether this effect, if present, is abnormal in dogs with renal hypertension. The baroreflex responses were evoked by brief low-intensity electrical carotid sinus nerve stimulation (CSNS) triggered by the R-wave in the electrocardiogram with an adjustable delay (0–210 ms) and positioned in either inspiration or expiration. All baroreceptor afferent nerves were intact. Brief CSNS had no noticeable effect on breathing. The responses of means of HR, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and systolic and diastolic respiratory blood pressure waves (RBPW syst, RBPW diast) to CSNS were not different for normotensive and hypertensive dogs. No cardiac, but a small respiratory cycle time effect on means of HR, BP syst and BP diast was observed. The magnitude of RSA and RBPW diast was markedly enhanced for expiratory CSNS at each delay after the R-wave. Inspiratory CSNS diminished the magnitude of RSA and RBPW only if applied during systole, and become ineffective for delays greater than 200 ms after the R-wave. During both respiratory phases, CSNS was elevated at times of central presentation of the natural sinoaortal baroreceptor discharges (120 ms and 70 ms, respectively). The magnitudes of RSA and RBPW were influenced simultaneously and in the same way by CSNS throughout. It is concluded that, under the present experimental conditions, RSA and RBPW have a common central origin.