Pressor threshold of muscle metaboreflex is modulated during unloading of carotid baroreceptors in humans

Static and dynamic exercise are accompanied by increases in arterial blood pressure, heart rate and sympathetic nerve activity. It is thought that the activation of the muscle metaboreflex is one of major mechanisms for evoking the pressor responses during heavy intensity exercise [1]. It has been shown that the arterial baroreflex buffers the muscle metaboreflex-mediated pressor responses [2]. However, it is unknown whether the carotid baroreflex modifies muscle metaboreflex function in humans. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of unloading of carotid baroreceptors on threshold and gain of the muscle metaboreflex in humans.