Reflex vascular capacity reduction in the dog.

The maximum degree and time course of active reflex venoconstriction in chloralose-anesthetized dogs was studied. The mean circulatory filling pressure (Pmc) was measured by fibrillating the heart and rapidly pumping blood from the aorta to the vena cava until the systemic arterial pressure equaled the central venous pressure. Ventricular fibrillation was continued for 1 minute and was assumed to induce maximal sympathetic discharge to the capacity vessels. Blood was removed to maintain the Pmc constant at the level determined at 8 seconds after the start of fibrillation. It was necessary to remove 13.8 ml/kg by the end of 1 minute. After autonomic nervous system blockade by hexamethonium only 4.8 ml/kg were removed to hold the Pmc constant. Thus, in conclusion, the maximal degree of active venoconstriction induced by circulatory arrest was 9.0 ml/kg during the 1st minute of cardiac fibrillation. A basal capacity vessel tone was present, equivalent to 10 ml/kg under the experimental conditions used.