Effect of Anesthetics on the Interaction between Pressor and Depressor Reflexes in Dogs

AbstractThe interaction between the pressor reflex to aortic nerve (AN) stimulation and the depressor reflex to carotid sinus nerve (CSN) stimulation was studied in the perfused hind limbs of dogs using different anesthetic agents commonly used in physiological studies. With chloralose, pentobarbital, or a combination of urethane and chloralose, stimulation of the depressor reflexes augmented the vasoconstrictor effects of the pressor reflex. Animals anesthetized with urethane alone did not demonstrate this interaction between these reflexes. The results suggest that chloralose and pentobarbital enhance the aortic nerve pressor reflexes rather than suppress the carotid sinus nerve depressor reflexes.