Systemic and pulmonary vasomotor waves

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Abstract
Rhythmic oscillations in systemic arterial blood pressure (Mayer waves) were produced in the dog by metabolic acidosis; hypoxia generally augmented the amplitude of the Mayer waves. When the Mayer waves exceeded 20 mm Hg in amplitude, they were associated with rhythmic fluctuations in pulmonary arterial pressure. The pulmonary arterial waves resembled the Mayer waves with respect to frequency and independence of the breathing pattern but were generally smaller in amplitude Measurements of instantaneous pulmonary arterial blood flow indicate that the rhythmic fluctuations in pulmonary arterial pressure represent the passive effects of fluctuations in pulmonary blood flow rather than fluctuations in pulmonary vasomotor activity. In turn, the swings in pulmonary arterial blood flow appear to originate in rhythmic variations in systemic vasomotor activity.