Abstract
Gravity acts on the circulatory system to decrease arterial blood pressure (AP) by causing blood redistribution and reduced venous return. To evaluate roles of the baroreflex and vestibulosympathetic reflex (VSR) in maintaining AP during gravitational stress, we measured AP, heart rate (HR), and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) in four groups of conscious rats, which were either intact or had vestibular lesions (VL), sinoaortic denervation (SAD), or VL plus SAD (VL+SAD). The rats were exposed to 3G in dorsoventral axis by centrifugation for 3min. In rats in which neither reflex was functional (VL+SAD group), RSNA did not change, but the AP showed a significant decrease (-8±1 mmHg vs. baseline). In rats with a functional baroreflex, but no VSR (VL group), the AP did not change and there was a slight increase in RSNA (25±10% vs. baseline). In rats with a functional VSR, but no baroreflex (SAD group), marked increases in both AP and RSNA were observed (AP 31±6 mmHg and RSNA 87±10% vs. baseline), showing that the VSR causes an increase in AP in response to gravitational stress; these marked increases were significantly attenuated by the baroreflex in the intact group (AP 9±2 mmHg and RSNA 38±7% vs. baseline). In conclusion, AP is controlled by the combination of the baroreflex and VSR. The VSR elicits a huge pressor response during gravitational stress, preventing hypotension due to blood redistribution. In intact rats, this AP increase is compensated by the baroreflex, resulting in only a slight increase in AP. [Jpn J Physiol 54 Suppl:S93 (2004)]
