BAROREFLEX CONTROL OF ARTERIAL AND VENOUS COMPLIANCES AND VASCULAR CAPACITY IN HYPERTENSIVE DOGS

The ability of the carotid sinus baroreflex to elicit reflex changes in vascular capacity was studied in chronically hypertensive (one-kidney, one-clip) and sham-operated normotensive dogs under pentobarbital sodium anesthesia. Vascular compliances and reflex-induced changes in external reservoir volume were measured in response to changes in isolated carotid sinus pressure (CSP). The mean arterial pressure-CSP reflex characteristic curve was shifted to a higher arterial pressure with hypertension with no change in maximum reflex gains. Arterial compliance in both groups increased significantly (P < 0.01) when CSP was increased from 50 to 200 mmHg. Total, arterial, and venous vascular compliances were not different in normotensive and hypertensive groups. Changes in CSP caused no significant changes in either total systemic vascular or calculated venous compliances. A decrease in CSP from 250 to 50 mmHg resulted in an increase in external reservoir volume of 8.02 +/- 1.03 and 7.44 +/- 1.33 ml/kg in normotensive and hypertensive groups, respectively, with changes in venous volume of 11.99 +/- 1.39 and 12.58 +/- 1.52 ml/kg (NS). We conclude that despite the increase in arterial resistance, Goldblatt hypertensive dogs retain the ability to make short-term reflex adjustments in both arterial pressure and venous blood volume.