In fetal sheep, severe hypotension causes heart rate (HR) slowing. Studies during development have also shown that a reflex bradycardia and hypotension can be elicited after chemostimulation with veratridine and is dependent on the age of the animal. In adults, a vagally mediated depressor reflex characterized by bradycardia, hypotension, and withdrawal of efferent sympathetic activity can be observed after stimulation of chemosensitive or mechanosensitive cardiac receptors with veratridine or in circumstances of reduced cardiac filling. This reflex, known as the Bezold-Jarisch reflex, plays a role in disease states such as myocardial ischemia and hemorrhage. The objectives of our study were to determine whether a sympathoinhibitor depressor reflex, along with the bradycardia, is observed during pharmacologically induced hypotension in fetal and newborn lambs. In both fetal and newborn lambs, HR and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) initially increased (p Ͻ 0.05) in response to nitroprusside infusion to reach a maximum value. The range (or "plateau") of mean arterial blood pressure over which maximum RSNA was maintained constant before withdrawal of sympathetic tone started to be observed was significantly (p Ͻ 0.05) smaller in fetuses (0.3 Ϯ 0.3 mm Hg) than newborn (6 Ϯ 1 mm Hg) lambs. Similarly, the plateau over which maximum HR was maintained before onset of bradycardia was significantly smaller in fetuses (4 Ϯ 1 versus 11 Ϯ 2 mm Hg). The mean arterial blood pressure level ("threshold") at which a depressor reflex was triggered was significantly (p Ͻ 0.05) lower in fetal than newborn sheep (35 Ϯ 2 versus 53 Ϯ 3 mm Hg for HR and 35 Ϯ 2 versus 57 Ϯ 2 mm Hg for RSNA). The rates of fall (slopes) for both HR and RSNA were also significantly (p Ͻ 0.05) more pronounced in fetuses (1.85 Ϯ 0.27 and 6.08 Ϯ 2.45%/mm Hg) than in newborns (1.21 Ϯ 0.16 and 1.97 Ϯ 0.32%/mm Hg). Bilateral vagotomy significantly increased the plateau of mean arterial blood pressure over which maximum RSNA and HR were maintained constant. Vagotomy also decreased the threshold for both RSNA and HR and the slope of the RSNA response to the nitroprusside infusion in newborn lambs. Results from this study show that activation of the arterial baroreflex during nitroprusside-induced hypotension is followed by withdrawal of sympathetic tone and bradycardia and that this depressor reflex is more pronounced in late-gestation fetuses than newborn lambs and is significantly attenuated after bilateral vagotomy in newborn lambs. (Pediatr Res 49: 56-62, 2001) Abbreviations: AP, amniotic pressure BJ, Bezold-Jarisch HR, heart rate MABP, mean arterial blood pressure RSNA, renal sympathetic nerve activityIn fetal sheep, in contrast to the tachycardic response to moderate hypotension (1, 2), severe hypotension causes HR slowing (2-4). This reflex bradycardia can be observed in response to hemorrhage (2), vena caval obstruction (5, 6), and vasodilator infusion (7). In adults, hypotension and bradycardia can be elicited after stimulation of mechanical or che...

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that the influence of circulating vasopressin (AVP) on the arterial baroreflex control of renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and heart rate (HR) changes during development. To test this hypothesis, we studied arterial baroreflex-mediated control of HR and RSNA in the presence of increasing plasma levels of AVP in conscious, chronically instrumented fetal, newborn, and adult sheep. In fetal and newborn sheep, increasing plasma AVP levels (from < 10 to > 200 microU/ml) increased resting levels of mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and decreased HR and RSNA. HR and RSNA baroreflex responses to variations of MABP with nitroprusside and phenylephrine infusion were not modified by elevated AVP levels in either newborn or fetal sheep, except for a small decrease in maximal HR response to nitroprusside infusion in the newborn animals. In contrast, in adults, AVP caused bradycardia and a decrease in RSNA without change in MABP, accompanied by resetting of the arterial baroreflex (decrease in maximal HR and RSNA, decrease in RSNA gain, and shift of HR to lower pressure). To test the hypothesis that the inability of AVP to reset the arterial baroreflex early during development was not secondary to maximal stimulation of V1 receptors during baseline conditions, we investigated the effect of V1-receptor blockade on baseline cardiovascular and arterial baroreflex function in newborn lambs. Administration of a V1-receptor antagonist produced no significant changes in resting MABP, HR, and RSNA and did not influence arterial baroreflex-mediated changes in HR and RSNA. These results indicate that, contrary to adults, circulating AVP does not modulate the arterial baroreflex in fetal and newborn sheep.

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Physiological responses at birth include increases in heart rate (HR), blood pressure, sympathetic nerve activity, and circulating vasoactive peptides. The factors mediating these responses are not known. To test the hypothesis that afferent input from peripheral mechanoreceptors (arterial and cardiopulmonary baroreceptors) and chemoreceptors contribute to the sympathoexcitatory and hormonal responses at birth, we studied the effects of sinoaortic denervation (SAD) and SAD with vagotomy (Vx) on changes in HR, mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), and catecholamine, arginine vasopressin (AVP), and ANG II levels at birth in term sheep. One hour after delivery by cesarean section, RSNA increased by 168 ± 49 and 192 ± 32% (relative to fetal values) in SAD and SAD-Vx animals, respectively. Significant increases in HR (18 ± 5 and 20 ± 6%) and MABP (24 ± 4 and 20 ± 5%) were also observed 1 h after delivery in SAD and SAD-Vx lambs, respectively. These responses are similar to those seen in intact sheep delivered at the same gestational age. AVP levels markedly increased after birth (19.8 ± 6.7 to 136.1 ± 75.9 pg/ml) in SAD-Vx lambs, whereas SAD animals displayed no change in AVP concentrations. Plasma ANG II also did not change after birth in either group, although levels were consistently higher ( P < 0.01) in SAD compared with SAD-Vx animals. In the presence of SAD, Vx resulted in significantly greater plasma levels of norepinephrine, although levels did not change after birth in either group. The epinephrine responses at birth were similar in both groups of animals. The present data suggest that afferent input from peripheral chemoreceptors and mechanoreceptors contributes little to the hemodynamic and sympathetic responses after delivery by cesarean section. On the other hand, these peripheral mechanisms appear to be involved in modulating endocrine responses at birth.