Acute resetting of the carotid sinus baroreflex by aortic depressor nerve stimulation

The effect of prolonged aortic depressor nerve (ADN) stimulation on carotid sinus baroreflex regulation of arterial pressure (AP) and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) was examined in anesthetized rabbits. Ramp increases in carotid sinus pressure (CSP) were repeated before and after 5 min of bilateral ADN stimulation. One minute after ADN stimulation the curve relating AP to CSP had shifted up and to the right, characterized by significant increases (P < 0.05) in the maximum (91 ± 2 to 101 ± 3 mmHg; mean ± SE), midpoint (118 ± 7 to 125 ± 8 mmHg CSP), and minimum (45 ± 3 to 53 ± 4 mmHg) of the AP reflex curve. There was a parallel shift downward of the curve relating RSNA to CSP, characterized by significant decreases in the maximum [100 ± 0 to 66 ± 8% of maximum control RSNA value (%max)], the range (90 ± 2 to 59 ± 8 %max), and the gain (-1.0 ± 0.2 to -0.5 ± 0.1 %max/mmHg) of the RSNA reflex curve. Values returned to control within 10 min of cessation of ADN stimulation. These results suggest that central neurons processing baroreflex information from one set of mechanoreceptors can be reset by convergent signals arising from another baroreceptor site.