Immediate variations in pulse wave velocity caused by Adrenalin in short, uniform parts of the arterial tree

¹ Department of Physiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

Pulse wave velocity measurements confined to a 6–9-cm segment of the femoral artery in eight anesthetized dogs gave an average value of 7.8 m/sec. The velocity varies with the diastolic blood pressure. This was particularly noticeable in one dog which showed marked spontaneous variations of diastolic blood pressure from beat to beat. The response to Adrenalin was diphasic showing first an increase in pulse wave velocity and then a marked decrease without a corresponding decrease in diastolic blood pressure. This observation suggests a physical change in the artery compatible with relaxation of the smooth muscle, rather than contraction.