Rodent cardiovascular responses to baroreceptor unloading: Effect of plane of anaesthesia
The objective of this study was to determine whether a plane of urethane–α-chloralose anaesthesia that suppresses motor reflexes would affect baroreflex cardiovascular control relative to a plane of anaesthesia that leaves motor reflexes intact. Adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were anaesthetized to either a light (motor reflexes intact) or deep (motor reflexes suppressed) plane of anaesthesia. Animals were exposed to graded (–2 to –10 mm Hg) lower body negative pressure while heart rate, vascular resistance, and mean arterial pressure were assessed. No between-group differences were observed in baseline hemodynamics. Graded lower body negative pressure progressively increased heart rate (p < 0.01) and vascular resistance (p < 0.001) and reduced mean arterial pressure (p < 0.001) similarly in light and deep planes of anaesthesia. Therefore, the deep plane of anaesthesia was not associated with a degradation of the autonomic response to baroreceptor unloading beyond that observed at the light plane. These data support the use of urethane–α-chloralose anaesthesia in studies examining reflex cardiovascular control concomitant with some degree of noxious stimulation.