Bezold-Jarisch Reflex Blunts Arterial Baroreflex via the Shift of Neural Arc toward Lower Sympathetic Nerve Activity

Abstract

Although the Bezold-Jarisch (BJ) reflex is potentially evoked during acute myocardial ischemia or infarction, its effects on the static characteristics of the arterial baroreflex remain to be analyzed in terms of an equilibrium diagram between the neural and peripheral arcs. The neural arc represents the static input-output relationship between baroreceptor pressure input and efferent sympathetic nerve activity (SNA), whereas the peripheral arc represents that between SNA and arterial pressure (AP). In 8 anesthetized rabbits, we increased carotid sinus pressure stepwise from 40 to 160 mmHg in increments of 20 mmHg at one-minute intervals while measuring renal SNA and AP under control conditions and during the activation of the BJ reflex by intravenous administration of phenylbiguanide (PBG, 100 μg kg⁻¹ min⁻¹). The neural arc approximated a sigmoid curve whereas the peripheral arc approximated a straight line. PBG decreased AP at the operating point from 91.3 ± 2.4 to 71.7 ± 3.1 mmHg (P < 0.01), and attenuated the total loop gain at the operating point from −1.31 ± 0.44 to −0.51 ± 0.14 (P < 0.05). The equilibrium diagram indicated that PBG caused a parallel shift of the neural arc toward lower SNA such that the maximum SNA was reduced to approximately 60% of control. PBG decreased neural and peripheral arc gains at the operating point to approximately 43% and 77%, respectively. In conclusion, the BJ reflex blunts arterial baroreflex via the shift of the neural arc toward lower SNA.