Modulation of carotid sinus baroreceptor reflex by sciatic nerve stimulation

In anethetized, immobilized, and vagotomized cats we analyzed the effect of sciatic nerve stimulation (SNS) on the relationships between intrasinus pressure (ISP) and arterial pressure (AP) and between ISP and heart rate (HR). At each of seven ISP levels between 60 and 240 mmHg, AP and HR before and 20 s after the onset of SNS were plotted against ISP to obtain the ISP-AP and ISP-HR relationships before and during SNA. SNA caused increases in AP, HR, and total peripheral resistance (TPR) and a decrease in cardiac output (CO). SNS raised the equilibrium pressure (the value of AP at which AP equaled ISP), but it significantly (P smaller than 0.005) decreased the slope (or gain) of the ISP-AP relationship at ISP's between 90 and 150 mmHg. SNS also significantly (P smaller than 0.05) diminished the gain of ISP-HR relationship at ISP's between 120 and 210 mmHg. Modulation of the gain of ISP-AP relationship was ascribable to that of CO but not of TPR. We conclude that in vagotomized cats 1) SNS attenuates the sensitivity of AP and HR responses in the carotid sinus baroreceptor reflex, and 2) the inhibition of the reflex AP response was caused by modulation of the reflex CO response.