Systemic and pulmonary vasomotor waves

¹ Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University School of Engineering, and Cardiorespiratory Laboratory, Presbyterian Hospital, New York City

Rhythmic oscillations in systemic arterial blood pressure (Mayer waves) were produced in the dog by metabolic acidosis; hypoxia generally augmented the amplitude of the Mayer waves. When the Mayer waves exceeded 20 mm Hg in amplitude, they were associated with rhythmic fluctuations in pulmonary arterial pressure. The pulmonary arterial waves resembled the Mayer waves with respect to frequency and independence of the breathing pattern but were generally smaller in amplitude Measurements of instantaneous pulmonary arterial blood flow indicate that the rhythmic fluctuations in pulmonary arterial pressure represent the passive effects of fluctuations in pulmonary blood flow rather than fluctuations in pulmonary vasomotor activity. In turn, the swings in pulmonary arterial blood flow appear to originate in rhythmic variations in systemic vasomotor activity.

Key Words: pulmonary vasomotricity • pulmonary waves • pulmonary circulation • pulmonary blood pressure

Submitted on July 2, 1964

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. J. Badra, W. H. Cooke, J. B. Hoag, A. A. Crossman, T. A. Kuusela, K. U. O. Tahvanainen, and D. L. Eckberg Respiratory modulation of human autonomic rhythms Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, June 1, 2001; 280(6): H2674 - H2688. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Vainionpaa, A. Hollme'n, and J. Timisjarvi Vasomotor waves of arterial blood pressure after cessation of cardiopulmonary bypass in man Perfusion, October 1, 1990; 5(4): 261 - 266. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. P. Szidon, N. S. Cherniack, and A. P. Fishman Traube-Hering Waves in the Pulmonary Circulation of the Dog Science, April 4, 1969; 164(3875): 75 - 76. [Abstract] [PDF]