Synchronous changes in ear and tail blood flow following salient and noxious stimuli in rabbits

Simultaneous recordings were made of ear and tail blood flow during alertin g responses to salient environmental stimuli in conscious rabbits, and duri ng electrical stimulation of the spinal trigeminal tract and raphe pallidus in anesthetized rabbits. Blood flow fell in a highly correlated manner (Pe arson coefficient ranging from 0.52 to 0.95) in these experimental situatio ns. Salient stimuli in conscious rabbits, and noxious stimuli in anesthetiz ed rabbits appear to cause a generalized vasoconstriction in cutaneous beds . (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.