The effects of altering mean pressure, pulse pressure and pulse frequency on the impulse activity in baroreceptor fibres from the aortic arch and right subclavian artery in the rabbit

1. A method is described for perfusing an isolated preparation of the rabbit aortic arch with independently controlled mean pressure, pulse pressure and pulse frequency.

2. Recordings made from single or few-fibre preparations from the aortic arch and right subclavian baroreceptor regions show that the number of impulses per second or per cycle in a single fibre is the same during pulsatile perfusion as during non-pulsatile perfusion if the pressure is above the threshold pressure to non-pulsatile perfusion during all phases of the pressure cycle.

3. In multi-fibre recordings the total number of impulses is greater during pulsatile perfusion than during non-pulsatile perfusion due largely to recruitment of fibres during systole.

4. The relationship between instantaneous impulse frequency and aortic arch pressure during one pressure cycle forms an elliptiform curve.

5. Increasing the pulse pressure increases the ellipse and causes additional recruitment of other fibres during systole, thus augmenting the total impulse activity.

6. Increasing the pulse frequency reduces the number of impulses per cycle for single fibres but produces a small increase in the total impulse frequency in one second period due to recruitment.

7. Increasing the rate of change of pressure by increasing the pulse pressure or pulse frequency produced a small reduction or no change of the threshold pressure. Similarly the `cut off' pressure was elevated in some fibres.

8. At low initial mean pressures, an increment of pressure, at constant pulse pressure and pulse frequency, increases the total impulse activity by increasing the frequency of impulses in single fibres already active during systole and diastole and by additional recruitment of other fibres. At higher mean pressures there is little increase in impulse activity as the maximum frequency of fibres is attained or superseded and there is little recruitment.