Baroreceptor control of postganglionic sympathetic nerve discharge

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Abstract
Postganglionic renal and splanchnic sympathetic discharge is controlled by baroreceptor input. Over the physiological range of pressure, the static response of the system can be approximated by a linear, inverse relationship. Sine-wave pressures in the isolated carotid sinus resulted in a proportionally greater and nonlinear response of the system. The gain of the system of pulsatile pressures was maximum in the range of normal systemic blood pressure. The frequency response of the carotid sinus-sympathetic system was found to approximate that of a bandpass filter with a range extending from 0.1 to 2 cycles/sec. At high and low frequencies, the system exhibited a nonlinear response evidenced by the increase in the DC term or steady characteristic of the output function. The gain of the baroreceptors still increased at high-frequency pressure waves while the gain of the sympathetic system decreased. The medullary centers and their efferent pathways, the sympathetic fibers, are apparently the limiting factors in the high-frequency response of the carotid-sympathetic system.

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