Cardiovascular control by arterial and cardiopulmonary baroreceptors in awake dogs with atrioventricular block.

We studied reflex responses to pressure changes at arterial and cardiopulmonary baroreceptors in five awake dogs with atrioventricular block before and after baroreceptor denervation. We changed ventricular pacing rate and blood volume to vary cardiac output and arterial (MAP) and central venous pressure (CVP). We determined peripheral resistance (TPR) and atrial rate (HRA) as responses. In the intact animal, regression analysis showed an average relationship across dogs of TPR = 169-0.69 MAP-1.952 CVP + error. Correlation (r) between observed and predicted TPR was 0.83. For HRA, regression indicated HRA = 291.66-2.319 MAP + 8.144 CVP + error (r = 0.899). TPR and MAP are percent of control at 90 beats/min; CVP is in mmHg; HRA, in beats/min. Although its coefficient is smaller, MAP explains approximately 69% of the variation in TPR. After arterial baroreceptor denervation, effects of MAP on TPR were insignificant and the coefficient for CVP increased. Subsequent vagal block eliminated all reflex responses. Effects from the two receptor sites sum linearly. They act cooperatively with changes in blood volume, but oppose one another with cardiac output changes.