AbstractIn order to compare the effect of visceral and carotid sinus hypotension on the resistance vessels the peripheral resistance in 3 areas (hind body, kidneys and head) in the cat has been investigated by means of the constant perfusion rate technique during occlusion and desocclusion of visceral (coeliac, superior mesenteric and renal) arteries and of the carotid arteries. In all 3 areas clamping of the visceral arteries provoked a vasodilatation whereas a vasoconstriction in the hind body and kidney was observed during carotid artery occlusion. The clampings always produced significant rises in the general arterial blood pressure. The pressor response caused by visceral artery occlusion thus is produced in spite of a widespread dilatation of the resistance vessels—not as a consequence of a constriction in the same vessels. Denervation of the carotid sinuses plus section of the vago‐sympathetic trunks nearly always abolished the vasodilatation. Stabilising the blood pressure by means of a compensating device always abolished the vasodilatation during visceral artery occlusion. Under these circumstances the vasodilatation was not replaced by a vasoconstriction in the periphery. It has thus not been possible to demonstrate baroreceptor activity in the visceral arteries even under circumstances where the activity of the sino‐cardio‐aortic baroreceptor reflexes was eli