Exercise training and the arterial baroreflex

To test the hypothesis that endurance training would attenuate the carotid sinus baroreflex in rats, studies were undertaken with 25 nontrained (NT) and 22 trained (T) male Sprague-Dawley rats that were exercised for 11-14 wk. Maximal O2 consumption was significantly increased 10% after training. The left carotid sinus region was functionally isolated in anesthetized animals. Subsequently, static carotid sinus pressure was raised in 20-Torr increments from 95 Torr until a maximal response in systemic arterial pressure and regional blood flows was recorded. Compared with the NT group, baroreflex control of blood pressure and calculated regional resistance of the T animals was less responsive to changes in carotid sinus pressure. Resting blood pressure, heart rate, and changes in peripheral blood flow velocity were similar for the two groups. Peripheral sensitivity to phenylephrine-HCl and hexamethonium bromide were also similar in the T and NT groups. It was concluded that the arterial baroreflex control of blood pressure was attenuated by exercise training. These findings support the concept that the trained individual is at disadvantage during hypotensive episodes and that endurance training will attenuate the sympathetic component of the arterial baroreflex.