The autonomic component in blood pressure and heart rate effects of tilting in the three-toed sloth.

1. This study attempts to elucidate unique heart and blood pressure responses seen in sloths in response to tilting by blocking autonomics with atropine, propranolol, or a combination of these. 2. Atropine produces less heart rate increase in sloths than in other mammals but blocks reflex bradycardia as expected. 3. Propranolol reduces heart rate to about the same degree as in man and completely blocks all cardiac responses to tilting, both direct and reflex. 4. Atropine slightly diminishes blood pressure responses to tilting whereas propranolol tends to augment the already marked increases.