title: R-R variability detects increases in vagal modulation with phenylephrine infusion.
abstract: High-frequency power, measured from power spectral analysis of R-R variability, reflects vagal modulation of the sinus node. Unexpectedly, a recent study reported a decrease in high-frequency power during the infusion of phenylephrine despite a prolongation of R-R intervals, indicating an increase in vagal activity. To better define the limitations of high-frequency power to quantify vagal modulation, we measured high-frequency power during the infusion of phenylephrine (0.4, 0.8, and 1.2 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) into 10 normal subjects. We found increasing doses of phenylephrine produced progressive increases in systolic blood pressure from 118 +/- 4 to 129 +/- 5 mmHg (P < 0.005), R-R intervals from 881 +/- 44 to 1,274 +/- 69 ms (P < 0.0001), and the logarithm of high-frequency power from 5.83 +/- 0.22 to 7.73 +/- 0.24 ln(ms2) (P < 0.0001). The conclusion was high-frequency power increases with increasing doses of phenylephrine. These data strongly support the ability of high-frequency power to detect an increase in vagal modulation during baroreceptor activation from an increase in systolic blood pressure with the infusion of phenylephrine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Bloomfield
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zweibel
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Bigger
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Steinman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013566:Sympathomimetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D013566:Sympathomimetics; D010656:Phenylephrine