Initial ethanol exposure results in decreased heart rate variability in ethanol-naive rhesus monkeys.
Ethanol's effects on heart rate variability may contribute to the increased cardiac disease and mortality observed in alcoholics. We assessed cardiac response to ethanol in seven previously ethanol-naive monkeys given a standard dose of ethanol, or saline. Ethanol exposure reduced cardiac signal complexity [mean+/-S.D. (ethanol: Hurst parameter=0.39+/-0.02; saline: Hurst parameter=0.32+/-0.06)] and increased the spectral exponent (ethanol: beta=1.36+/-0.35; saline: beta=1.12+/-0.35) when compared to saline, while heart rate itself was unaffected (saline: interbeat interval=303.57+/-24.57; ethanol: interbeat interval=308.14+/-20.45). Taken together with data that show autonomic disregulation in alcoholics, these findings provide further evidence of deleterious ethanol effects on cardiac signal dynamics.
Bennett
A J
AJ
Laboratory of Clinical Studies, Primate Unit, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biochemical Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, PO Box 529, Fisher Avenue, Poolesville, MD 20837, USA. ABENNETT@WFUBMC.EDU
Sponberg
A C
AC
Graham
T
T
Suomi
S J
SJ
Higley
J D
JD
DePetrillo
P B
PB
D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects
D000431:Ethanol