Comparison of the Reflex Effects of Arterial Baroreceptors and Cardiac Receptors on the Heart Rate of Conscious Rabbits

The reflex effects on heart rate (HR) of presumptive cardiac receptors have been differentiated from those of the arterial baroreceptors in conscious rabbits by inflating cuffs on the ascending aorta, descending aorta, inferior vena cava and pulmonary artery. When the outflow from the right ventricle was progressively impeded the accompanying increase in HR was entirely explicable by unloading of the arterial baroreceptors. As the outflow from the left ventricle was progressively impeded there was an initial increase in HR due to unloading of the arterial baroreceptors, followed by a progressive decline. This decline was attributed to a reflex arising from vagally-innervated receptors in the left side of the heart. The threshold of this cardiac receptor-HR reflex occurred at a higher level of mean aortic pressure than that at which the effects of the arterial baroreceptors on HR were maximal. Cholinergic (vagal) efferent nerves were responsible for two-thirds of the decline in HR caused by the reflex. The properties of the cardiac receptor-HR reflex were altered by drugs that affect myocardial contractility. Isoprenaline raised the mean aortic pressure at which the threshold occurred, but lowered the corresponding level of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Propranolol virtually abolished the reflex, even though left ventricular end-diastolic pressure reached a high level. It is concluded that in the conscious rabbit the arterial baroreceptor reflexes normally prevent the threshold of the cardiac receptor-HR reflex from being attained.