The effect of the carotid sinus baroreceptor reflex on blood flow and volume redistribution in the total systemic vascular bed of the dog.

To quantify the relative contribution of blood flow redistribution and active changes in vascular capacity in the regulation of cardiac output, blood flow and volumes in two parallel vascular beds were measured in response to varying carotid sinus pressures. In nine dogs, carotid sinuses were isolated and intrasinus pressure was controlled. Two external reservoirs were placed between the caval veins and the right heart to measure changes in vascular capacity in splanchnic and extrasplanchnic vascular beds. At intrasinus pressures of 50 and 200 mm Hg, we have simultaneously measured arterial resistances, compliances, changes in flows, and "unstressed vascular volume," and time constants of venous drainage in the splanchnic and extrasplanchnic vascular beds. Compliances and time constants of venous drainage were found to be nearly equal in the two beds. A decrease in intrasinus pressure from 200 to 50 mm Hg resulted in a small redistribution of blood flow (about 5% of cardiac output) from the extrasplanchni...