Peripheral vascular responses during carotid baroreceptor stimulation in normotensive and hypertensive subjects.
1. The carotid baroreceptors were stimulated for 2 min by neck suction at -30 and -60 mmHg in 19 normotensive subjects and 12 patients with moderate essential hypertension. 2. Blood pressure was measured with a mercury sphygmomanometer and heart rate was derived from beat-to-beat analysis of the electrocardiogram. Blood flow was measured simultaneously at calf and finger with venous occlusion plethysmography and the vascular resistance was calculated. 3. During neck suction at -30 and -60 mmHg there was a significant decrease in arterial blood pressure and heart rate. There was a transient vasodilatation of the calf blood vessels, while there was a sustained vasoconstriction of the finger blood vessels. These results were qualitatively similar in both groups; however, there were quantitative differences. 4. These experiments show that there is a selective autonomic control of the different peripheral vascular beds by the carotid baroreceptors in both normotension and mild essential hypertension.
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
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D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011311:Pressoreceptors / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011312:Pressure; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014655:Vascular Resistance