The baroreflex is the primary mechanism for acute and long term blood pressure control, regulating pressure primarily through adjustments in vagal activity (cardiac baroreflex) and vascular sympathetic outflow (vascular sympathetic baroreflex). Whilst the cardiac baroreflex and its role in various physiological challenges and disease states has been widely studied, our understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of the vascular sympathetic baroreflex is comparatively poor. It is important to gain understanding of how this vital homeostatic mechanism operates in health; several questions remain regarding the influence of ageing, gender, pregnancy, circadian rhythms, and sleep, amongst others. Equally, the role of the vascular sympathetic baroreflex in disease represents a highly relevant, yet relatively untapped, field of study. Human and animal studies indicate that the ability to buffer changes in arterial pressure through sympathetic vasoconstriction may be central to a number of highly prevalent diseases and a major player in the deterioration of health in clinical populations. Advancements in this area have arguably been restricted by inconsistencies in the methods used to quantify vascular sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity; some researchers favour spontaneous approaches and others pharmacological. A number of different analytical techniques also exist, with little information available regarding the repeatability of these methods.
We welcome investigators to submit work that examines the anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of the vascular sympathetic baroreflex. Whilst we are looking to address the balance regarding research on the cardiac and vascular baroreflexes, manuscripts that provide new perspectives on aspects of the cardiac baroreflex or the assessment of baroreflex function in general are also welcomed. The aim of this Research Topic is to provide a comprehensive set of reviews and the latest original research in order to address the unanswered questions surrounding this important function of the autonomic nervous system. Submissions can come in various article types (original research, reviews, methods, commentaries, etc) and may involve human or animal models.
The baroreflex is the primary mechanism for acute and long term blood pressure control, regulating pressure primarily through adjustments in vagal activity (cardiac baroreflex) and vascular sympathetic outflow (vascular sympathetic baroreflex). Whilst the cardiac baroreflex and its role in various physiological challenges and disease states has been widely studied, our understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of the vascular sympathetic baroreflex is comparatively poor. It is important to gain understanding of how this vital homeostatic mechanism operates in health; several questions remain regarding the influence of ageing, gender, pregnancy, circadian rhythms, and sleep, amongst others. Equally, the role of the vascular sympathetic baroreflex in disease represents a highly relevant, yet relatively untapped, field of study. Human and animal studies indicate that the ability to buffer changes in arterial pressure through sympathetic vasoconstriction may be central to a number of highly prevalent diseases and a major player in the deterioration of health in clinical populations. Advancements in this area have arguably been restricted by inconsistencies in the methods used to quantify vascular sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity; some researchers favour spontaneous approaches and others pharmacological. A number of different analytical techniques also exist, with little information available regarding the repeatability of these methods.
We welcome investigators to submit work that examines the anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of the vascular sympathetic baroreflex. Whilst we are looking to address the balance regarding research on the cardiac and vascular baroreflexes, manuscripts that provide new perspectives on aspects of the cardiac baroreflex or the assessment of baroreflex function in general are also welcomed. The aim of this Research Topic is to provide a comprehensive set of reviews and the latest original research in order to address the unanswered questions surrounding this important function of the autonomic nervous system. Submissions can come in various article types (original research, reviews, methods, commentaries, etc) and may involve human or animal models.