Systemic blood pressure of awake animals was measured by an indirect tail-cuff method according to
our previous procedures (3).A photoelectric sensor was used to detect pressure pulses through a
cuff pump (IITC, Model 20)and pulse amplifier
(IITC,Model 59). Recording on the computer
program was carried out at ambient temperature
(28f19to avoid the stressful prewarming procedure. The accuracy and reliability of this method
have been described previously