Circulatory Effects of Electrical Stimulation of the Carotid Sinus Nerves in Man

The effects of carotid sinus nerve (CSN) stimulation were studied at rest and during a mild level of supine bicycle exercise in seven patients in whom CSN stimulators had been implanted for the treatment of angina pectoris. At rest, CSN stimulation produced a fall in mean arterial pressure (MAP) averaging 23% and an 8% decrease in cardiac output (CO). Total peripheral resistance (TPR) fell by 14% and forearm vascular resistance (FVR) by 16%. During exercise, MAP fell 16%, but no significant change occurred in CO. Thus, the fall in MAP could be attributed to a reflexly induced decrease in peripheral vascular resistance. Only small decreases occurred in heart rate. No changes in venous tone, central venous pressure, or the maximum transverse end-diastolic diameter of the heart were produced by stimulation either at rest or during exercise. Thus, at rest, CSN stimulation reduces MAP by reflexly decreasing both vascular resistance and CO; during exercise, the diminution in CO no longer occurs. Finally, the venous system does not appear to participate in reflexes activated by CSN stimulation.

[1]  E. Braunwald,et al.  Treatment of Angina Pectoris by Electrical Stimulation of the Carotid-Sinus Nerves: Results in 17 Patients with Severe Angina , 1969 .

[2]  J. Covell,et al.  Relative importance of the carotid and aortic baroreceptors in the reflex control of heart rate. , 1968, The American journal of physiology.

[3]  E. Braunwald,et al.  Role of the venous system in baroreceptor-mediated reflexes in man. , 1968, The Journal of clinical investigation.

[4]  E. Braunwald,et al.  Relief of angina pectoris by electrical stimulation of the carotid-sinus nerves. , 1968, The New England journal of medicine.

[5]  E. Rapaport,et al.  Comparison of the Reflexes Elicited from Combined or Separate Stimulation of the Aortic and Carotid Chemoreceptors on Myocardial Contractility, Cardiac Output and Systemic Resistance , 1967, Circulation research.

[6]  C. A. Gilbert,et al.  Forearm vascular responses to lower body negative pressure and orthostasis. , 1966, Journal of applied physiology.

[7]  J. T. Shepherd,et al.  Role of the veins in the carotid sinus reflex. , 1966, The American journal of physiology.

[8]  N. Browse,et al.  Response of capacity vessels in human limbs to head-up tilt and suction on lower body. , 1966, Journal of applied physiology.

[9]  B. S. Bevegård,et al.  Temporary arrest of circulation to a limb for the study of venomotor reactions in man. , 1966, Journal of applied physiology.

[10]  J. T. Shepherd,et al.  Circulatory effects of stimulating the carotid arterial stretch receptors in man at rest and during exercise. , 1966, The Journal of clinical investigation.

[11]  E. Braunwald,et al.  The Effects of Nitroglycerin and Amyl Nitrite on Arteriolar and Venous Tone in the Human Forearm , 1965, Circulation.

[12]  K. Melmon,et al.  Effects of Bradykinin on Forearm Venous Tone and Vascular Resistance in Man , 1965, Circulation research.

[13]  J. H. Comroe,et al.  THE RESPIRATORY AND CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSES OF TEMPORALLY SEPARATED AORTIC AND CAROTID BODIES TO CYANIDE, NICOTINE, PHENYLDIGUANIDE AND SEROTONIN. , 1964, The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics.

[14]  Donald C. Harrison,et al.  Studies on Cardiac Dimensions in Intact, Unanesthetized Man , 1963, Circulation research.

[15]  J. Ross,et al.  Reflex Control of the Systemic Venous Bed , 1963 .

[16]  M. Daly,et al.  The cardiovascular responses to stimulation of the carotid body chemoreceptors in the dog , 1963, The Journal of physiology.

[17]  J. Mitchell,et al.  Cardiovascular Responses to Hypoxic Stimulation of the Carotid Bodies , 1962, Circulation research.

[18]  E. Sharpey-Schafer.  Venous tone. , 1961, British medical journal.

[19]  C HEYMANS,et al.  Reflexogenic Areas of the Cardiovascular System , 2015, Perspectives in biology and medicine.

[20]  J. P. Gilmore,et al.  Regulation of Ventricular Contraction by the Carotid Sinus: Its Effect on Atrial and Ventricular Dynamics , 1960, Circulation research.

[21]  F. L. Merritt,et al.  Reflex venomotor alterations during exercise and hyperventilation , 1959 .

[22]  G. Grimby,et al.  Cardiovascular effects of direct stimulation of the carotid sinus nerve in man. , 1958, Acta physiologica Scandinavica.

[23]  J. Wood,et al.  A tandem foream plethysmograph for study of acute responses of the peripheral veins of man: the effect of environmental and local temperature change, and the effect of pooling blood in the extremities. , 1958, The Journal of clinical investigation.

[24]  H. Mcintosh,et al.  Reflex Venomotor Activity in Normal Persons and in Patients with Postural Hypotension , 1955, Circulation.

[25]  C. V. Winder.  PRESSORECEPTOR REFLEXES FROM THE CAROTID SINUS , 1937 .