Facilitation of the Bezold-Jarisch reflex by central stimulation of alpha 2 adrenoceptors in dogs.

The Bezold-Jarisch reflex characterized by hypotension and bradycardia was elicited in anaesthetized artificially respired dogs (pretreated with a beta-adrenoceptor antagonist ) using capsaicin 10 micrograms/kg (i.v.). Intracisternal administration of the highly selective "clonidine-like" alpha 2 adrenoceptor agonists B-HT 920 (10 micrograms/kg) or B-HT 933 (30 micrograms/kg) significantly facilitated this reflex bradycardia. The involvement of central alpha 2-adrenoceptors is suggested as intracisternal administration of the alpha 2 adrenoceptor blocking drugs yohimbine (50 micrograms/kg) and piperoxan (50 micrograms/kg) antagonized this facilitation. B-HT 920 also facilitated the vagally mediated baroreceptor reflex to the hypertensive effect of intravenous noradrenaline (3 micrograms/kg). Although the Bezold-Jarisch reflex and the baroreceptor reflex have different afferent pathways, both reflexes may either converge into a common pathway or have separate neuronal chains within the medulla; however, this study indicates that both have a similar central modulatory system stimulated by alpha 2 adrenoceptors.