Carotid baroreflex control of leg vascular conductance at rest and during exercise

David M. Keller, Wendy L. Wasmund, D. Walter Wray, Shigehiko Ogoh, Paul J. Fadel, Michael L. Smith, Peter B. Raven

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

We sought to test the hypothesis that the carotid baroreflex (CBR) alters mean leg blood flow (LBF) and leg vascular conductance (LVC) at rest and during exercise. In seven men and one woman, 25 ± 2 (SE) yr of age, CBR control of LBF and LVC was determined at rest and during steady-state one-legged knee extension exercise at ∼65% peak O2 uptake. The application of 5-s pulses of +40 Torr neck pressure and -60 Torr neck suction significantly altered mean arterial pressure (MAP) and LVC both at rest and during exercise. CBR-mediated changes in MAP were similar between rest and exercise (P < 0.05). However, CBR-mediated decreases in LVC (%change) to neck pressure were attenuated in the exercising leg (16.4 ± 1.6%) compared with rest (33 ± 2.1%) and the nonexercising leg (23.7 ± 1.9%) (P < 0.01). These data suggest CBR control of blood pressure is partially mediated by changes in leg vascular tone both at rest and during exercise. Furthermore, despite alterations in CBR-induced changes in LVC during exercise, CBR control of blood pressure was well maintained.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)542-548
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Applied Physiology
Volume94
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Feb 2003

Keywords

  • Carotid baroreceptors
  • Functional sympatholysis
  • Leg blood flow
  • Neck pressure
  • Neck suction

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