Validity of an indirect tail-cuff method for determining systolic arterial pressure in unanesthetized normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats

A noninvasive method, using tail-cuff plethysmography, for assessing arterial blood pressure in awake and anesthetized cats is described. Systolic pressures were reliably recorded over a wide range. Although the diastolic pressure was significantly lower by tail-cuff method as compared to intra-arterial measurement, a close correlation exists (r = 0.93) so that the tail-cuff determination accurately estimates the true diastolic pressure.