Closed-loop identification of carotid sinus baroreflex transfer characteristics using electrical stimulation.
Although random aortic pressure (AOP) perturbation according to a binary white noise sequence enables us to estimate open-loop dynamic characteristics of the carotid sinus baroreflex under closed-loop conditions, the necessity of arterial catheter implantation limits the applicability of this method in freely moving animal experiments. Thus, we explored a closed-loop system identification method using electrical stimulation. In 6 anesthetized and vagotomized rabbits, we stimulated the aortic depressor nerve with a binary white noise sequence (0-10 Hz) under baroreflex closed-loop conditions while measuring cardiac sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and AOP. We used a closed-loop identification method to estimate the peripheral arc transfer function from SNA to AOP. The peripheral arc transfer function approximated a second-order low-pass filter and its fitted parameters did not differ from those obtained by an open-loop identification method (dynamic gain: 1.16+/-0.32 vs. 1.02+/-0.11; natural frequency: 0.08+/-0.03 vs. 0.09+/-0.03 Hz; damping ratio: 1.53+/-0.15 vs. 1.57+/-0.21). In 6 different rabbits, we applied intermittent rapid pacing (396 beats/min) under baroreflex closed-loop conditions to estimate the neural arc transfer function from AOP to SNA. The neural arc transfer function approximated a first-order high-pass filter and its fitted parameters did not differ from those obtained by an open-loop identification method (dynamic gain: -1.15+/-0.45 vs. -1.06+/-0.05; corner frequency: 0.12+/-0.05 vs. 0.13+/-0.03 Hz). In conclusion, the closed-loop identification method using electrical stimulation is effective to estimate the neural and peripheral arc transfer functions.
Kawada
T
T
Department of Cardiovascular Dynamics, National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, 565-8565, Japan.
Sato
T
T
Inagaki
M
M
Shishido
T
T
Tatewaki
T
T
Yanagiya
Y
Y
Zheng
C
C
Sugimachi
M
M
Sunagawa
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000294:innervation; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000502:physiology*; D002346:Carotid Sinus / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation; D008954:Models, Biological; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D011817:Rabbits; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D014628:Vagotomy