Analysis of the common carotid occlusion pressor reflex in the anesthetized dog

Abstract

The relationship between mean arterial blood pressure and the common carotid occlusion pressor response in dogs was found to be linear over a blood pressure range of approximately 100–160 mm Hg. These results were obtained when blood pressure was reduced by spontaneous decay, hemorrhage or the administration of a vasodilator drug, sodium nitroprusside. It was found that the slope of the regression line varied considerably for individual dogs and could not be predicted in advance of actual experimentation. A single regression line drawn from pooled data for this reflex has no predictive value in determining the regression line slope for an individual dog because of the extensive variation in slope values among dogs. In order to predict the carotid occlusion pressor response at a given mean arterial pressure for a given dog one must know the slope of the regression line for the reflex in that dog.