[Changes in the carotid artery tonus of cats in response to changes in the blood flow rate].

It was shown in acute experiments on cats that the carotid artery is sensitive to the rate of blood flow. The increased blood flow with the unchanged perfusion pressure causes carotid artery enlargement which is maintained throughout the entire period till the arterial blood flow remains increased. The reduction of blood flow to the initial level is accompanied by the diameter returning to the initial value. The latent period of the dilatatory response of the carotid artery to the increased blood flow does not exceed 25 s, the maximal magnitude of the response averages 25 +/- 6%. In the physiological blood flow range (from 10 to 50 ml/min) the response is linearly dependent on the degree of the blood flow increase.