How did Ivan Pavlov study blood pressure in dogs?

Ivan Pavlov conducted his research on the circulatory system and blood pressure regulation between 1888 and 1890. During this period, he developed exceptional surgical skills that allowed him to perform procedures on dogs with great precision.12

To study the influence of various pharmacological and emotional stimuli on blood pressure, Pavlov was able to introduce a catheter into a dog's femoral artery almost painlessly and without the use of anesthesia. Additionally, by carefully dissecting fine cardiac nerves, he demonstrated how nerves leaving the cardiac plexus control the strength of the heartbeat, and he utilized the stimulation of severed cervical nerves to observe the effects of the vagal nerves on the heart.2

It is important to note that later in his career, Pavlov emphasized the importance of strict postoperative care and maintaining the health of animals used in his laboratory experiments.2