[The effect of halothane and enflurane as well as of propanidid and ketamin on the aortic baroreceptor discharge of decerebrated cats (author's transl)].

The effect of halothane, enflurane, propanidid and ketamine on the sensitivity of the aortic baroreceptors and its quantitative relationship with arterial pressure were studied in decerebrated cats. Receptor response curves (single baroreceptor fibres of the depressor nerve) were constructed by plotting the average discharge rate (spikes/sec) against the aortic mean pressure and the effect of the anaesthetics on them was analysed. The blood pressure was changed over wide ranges by inflating a balloon placed in the thoracic part of the descending aorta through a femoral artery. Receptor sensitivity increased with halothane and enflurane, yet it decreased with propanidid. It remained uneffected duringanesthesia with ketamine. Thus, different anesthetics act differently on the afferent impulse traffic of baroreceptors. The possible role of these effects on blood pressure control during anaesthesia is discussed.