Long-lasting cardiovascular depressor response to somatic stimulation in spontaneously hypertensive rats

It has been known that a short-lasting stimulation of the somatic afferent nerves elicits either a depressor or a pressor response depending on the stimulus parameters (Johansson 1962). In the present study cardiovascular responses were observed during and after a long-lasting sciatic nerve stimulation in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their normotensive controls, the Wistar Kyoto rats (WKR).