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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 286/4/H1382    most recent 00801.2003v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (7) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Yamamoto, K. Articles by Sunagawa, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Yamamoto, K. Articles by Sunagawa, K.

Muscle mechanoreflex induces the pressor response by resetting the arterial baroreflex neural arc

¹Department of Cardiovascular Dynamics, National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Osaka 565-8565; and ²Japan Association for the Advancement of Medical Equipment, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan

Submitted 29 August 2003 ; accepted in final form 19 November 2003

The effects of the muscle mechanoreflex on the arterial baroreflex neural control have not previously been analyzed over the entire operating range of the arterial baroreflex. In anesthetized, vagotomized, and aortic-denervated rabbits (n = 8), we isolated carotid sinuses and changed intracarotid sinus pressure (CSP) from 40 to 160 mmHg in increments of 20 mmHg every minute while recording renal sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and arterial pressure (AP). Muscle mechanoreflex was induced by passive muscle stretch (5 kg of tension) of the hindlimb. Muscle stretch shifted the CSP-SNA relationship (neural arc) to a higher SNA, whereas it did not affect the SNA-AP relationship (peripheral arc). SNA was almost doubled [from 63 ± 15 to 118 ± 14 arbitrary units (au), P < 0.05] at the CSP level of 93 ± 8 mmHg, and AP was increased 50% by muscle stretch. When the baroreflex negative feedback loop was closed, muscle stretch increased SNA from 63 ± 15 to 81 ± 21 au (P < 0.05) and AP from 93 ± 8 to 109 ± 12 mmHg (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the muscle mechanoreflex resets the neural arc to a higher SNA, which moves the operating point towards a higher SNA and AP under baroreflex closed-loop conditions. Analysis of the baroreflex equilibrium diagram indicated that changes in the neural arc induced by the muscle mechanoreflex might compensate for pressure falls resulting from exercise-induced vasodilatation.

sympathetic nerve activity; arterial pressure; baroreflex equilibrium diagram; exercise pressor reflex; exercise