A new method for the assessment of baroreceptor function during sleep

Arterial blood pressure regulation is controlled by nerval, hormonal and myogene processes. Short term blood pressure regulation is dominated by nerval regulations, mainly circulatory reflexes. The carotid sinus reflex can be experimentally influenced by the application of neck pressure or suction. Thereby it is possible to investigate baroreceptor function with nonpharmacological interventions. The authors designed a computer controlled system which allows a heart beat triggered application of positive and negative neck cuff pressures for the investigation of blood pressure control during sleep. The new system was optimized to apply multiple user defined steps of external pressure. The system was used with young healthy students to show whether it was possible to determine baroreceptor function during sleep without causing sleep fragmentation and proved to be successful.