Logo image
Back
Rheoreceptors in the carotid sinus of dog
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Rheoreceptors in the carotid sinus of dog

G HAJDUCZOK, M. W CHAPLEAU and F. M ABBOUD
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS, Vol.85(19), pp.7399-7403
1988
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.85.19.7399
PMCID: PMC282194
PMID: 3174642
url
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.85.19.7399View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

The arterial baroreceptors are known to be sensitive to changes in pressure but there are no known sensors in the cardiovascular system for changes in flow. We tested the hypothesis that changes in flow at constant pressure alter carotid sinus multi-unit nerve activity. In anesthetized dogs with vascularly isolated carotid sinuses, increases in flow at constant pressure resulted in increases in carotid sinus nerve activity in relation to the increase in flow. The increased activity during flow was not caused by an increase in strain of the sinus wall but was directly related to the increase in shear stress (36.6 +/- 11.7% increase in activity per dyne/cm2; 1 dyne = 0.1 MN). The pressure threshold of single baroreceptor units was determined during a slow pressure ramp with and without flow. Flow caused a significant decrease in pressure threshold from 81.1 +/- 6.1 mmHg (1 mmHg = 1.333 x 10(2) Pa) in the absence of flow to 69.3 +/- 5.7 mmHg with flow. We conclude that there are arterial "rheoreceptors" in the carotid sinus that respond to flow at constant pressure and strain. The results with single baroreceptor units indicate also that baroreceptors may be sensitized by increases in flow. Thus, changes in flow per se in addition to changes in arterial pressure may be important determinants of reflex circulatory adjustments.
 Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology Biological and medical sciences Blood vessels and receptors Vertebrates: cardiovascular system

Details

Metrics

21 Record Views
47 Times Cited - Web of Science
Logo image