title: Dynamic changes in cardiac vagal tone as measured by time-series analysis.
abstract: A time-series analysis of heart rate variability was evaluated as a marker of cardiac vagal tone using well-characterized autonomic interventions. Heart period (R-R interval) was recorded in 14 mongrel dogs from which the amplitude of the respiratory sinus arrhythmia (0.24-1.04 Hz) was determined. Exercise elicited significant (P less than 0.01) reductions in the index of vagal tone (control 6.3 +/- 0.3 ln ms2 vs. exercise 2.4 +/- 0.4 ln ms2) that were accompanied by significant (P less than 0.01) increases in heart rate (control 123.1 +/- 5 vs. exercise 201.0 +/- 7.7 beats/min). The vagal tone index remained greater than 0 throughout exercise. After propranolol HCl pretreatment, the vagal tone index rapidly decreased toward zero (control 6.2 +/- 0.5; exercise 0.7 +/- 0.3 ln ms2), despite significantly lower increases in heart rate (control 109.3 +/- 4.2; exercise 178.0 +/- 7.6 beats/min). Atropine given during exercise evoked significantly greater increases in heart rate in the control (+48.7 +/- 7.9 beats/min) vs. propranolol (+14.2 +/- 6.7 beats/min) conditions. These data suggest that 1) high levels of cardiac vagal tone remain during exercise; 2) vagal withdrawal is largely responsible for the heart rate increase after beta-adrenergic receptor blockade; and 3) time-series analysis of the R-R interval can provide a dynamic and noninvasive index of cardiac vagal tone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Billman
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dujardin
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004285:Dogs; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008722:Methods; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D012146:Rest; D014628:Vagotomy; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D010656:Phenylephrine; D001285:Atropine; D011433:Propranolol