The effect of an alerting acoustic stimulus on the heart rate, sympathetic activity and aortic baroreceptor discharge in conscious rabbits before and after naloxone administration.

Blood pressure, heart rate, aortic nerve activity and cervical sympathetic discharge were recorded simultaneously in 10 rabbits. Chronic recordings were made with electrodes implanted to the uncut aortic and cervical sympathetic nerves. 1. The alerting acoustic stimulus produced a short lasting decrease in sympathetic activity with a transient bradycardia. 2. In 6 out of 8 rabbits i.v. administration of naloxone chloride (100 mg/kg) diminished or abolished early inhibitory effects evoked by acoustic stimulus. 3. The sympatho-inhibitory system involved in the startling response appears to be independent of the baroreceptor inhibitory reflex and has opposite responsiveness to naloxone. 4. A decrease in efferent sympathetic activity with no accompanying change in the aortic nerve activity suggests some central resetting of the baroreceptor-sympatho-inhibitory reflex. 5. We suggest that the observed autonomic effects following an alerting stimulus are typical for a fear-anxiety drive.