The role of low pressure baroreceptors in reflex vasoconstrictor responses in man

Studies were performed on 11 healthy men to evaluate the role of low pressure baroreceptors in the reflex forearm vasoconstrictor responses (plethysmography) to venous pooling produced by lower body negative pressure. Lower body negative pressure (LBNP) at - 5, - 10, - 20, and - 40 mm Hg lowered central venous pressure by 42, 59, 74, and 93%, respectively, and decreased forearm vascular conductance by 24, 29, 34, and 40%, respectively. The decreases in forearm blood flow and conductance during the low levels of venous pooling (LBNP - 5 and - 10 mm Hg) occurred without significant changes in arterial pressure, arterial dP/dt. and heart rate. These results with the low levels indicate that maneuvers which decrease venous return and central venous pressure in man can influence forearm vascular tone without significant changes in the determinants of carotid and aortic baroreceptor activity. During high levels of venous pooling (LBNP - 20 and - 40 mm Hg), significant decreases in arterial pressure and dP/dt and significant increases in heart rate accompanied the further reductions in central venous pressure, forearm blood flow, and forearm vascular conductance. About 73% of the decrease in conductance during venous pooling at LBNP - 40 mm Hg, which was sufficient to decrease arterial pressure and activate high pressure baroreceptor reflexes, occurred during low levels of venous pooling at LBNP - 10 mm Hg without changes in arterial pressure. This suggests that much of the forearm vasoconstriction with the high levels of venous pooling, which were sufficient to decrease arterial pressure, may be accounted for by reflexes originating in areas other than high pressure baroreceptors. The results of these studies suggest that low pressure baroreceptors exert an important influence on forearm vascular tone during decreases in venous return and central venous pressure in man.