Acute Activation and Inhibition of the Sympathetic Baroreceptor Reflex

Many laboratories around the world use baroreceptor denervation in their investigations of the cardiovascular system. The most common method, performed in the rat, is a permanent denervation where the carotid sinus and aortic depressor nerves are transected. Here, we describe detailed step-by-step methods for acute reversible baroreceptor denervation in the rat. In this method, local anaesthetic agents are superfused around the region of the carotid sinus. With this method, complete baroreceptor denervation can be achieved for longer (bupivacaine, 30–60 min) or shorter (lignocaine, 10–30 min) periods, without harming the physiological state of the rat.