Interaction between the arterial baroreflex and a hypertensive stressor: a mathematical model

Stressors intensify sympathetic outflow, thus increasing heart rate and arterial blood pressure. The significance of the arterial baroreflex is to be found in reducing such rate and pressure changes. For a better understanding of the interaction between a hypertensive stressor and the arterial baroreflex we have developed a mathematical simulation model, consisting of a hemodynamic section, a baroreceptor section, and a baroreflex section. Physiological or pathological resting conditions are simulated by specific settings of the autonomic tone parameters and cardiac stroke volume. Also the vagal and sympathetic baroreflex gains can be set. A stressor is introduced by adding extra sympathetic outflow to the heart and peripheral resistance. The responses in heart rate and blood pressure help to understand how the arterial baroreflex protects the heart and circulation.