title: Effect of autonomic blockers on heart period variability in calves: evaluation of the sympathovagal balance.
abstract: This study was designed to validate the measures of heart period variability for assessing of autonomic nervous system control in calves. Eight calves received an injection of either 0.5 mg/kg atenolol (sympathetic tone blockade), 0.2 mg/kg atropine sulfate (parasympathetic tone blockade), 0.5 mg/kg atenolol + 0.2 mg/kg atropine sulfate (double autonomic blockade) or saline. In the time-domain, we calculated the mean instantaneous heart rate (HR), mean of RR intervals (MeanRR), standard deviation of RR intervals (SDRR) and that of the difference between adjacent intervals (RMSSD). In the frequency-domain, the power of the spectral band 0-1 Hz (TPW), the power of the 0-0.15 Hz band (LF), that of the 0.15-1 Hz band (HF), and the LF/HF ratio were considered. The net vago-sympathetic effect (VSE) was calculated as the ratio of MeanRR in a defined situation to MeanRR during the double blockade. Atenolol injection had no effect on cardiac activity, whereas atropine induced large modifications which were moderated when atenolol was administered at the same time. VSE, HR, MeanRR and RMSSD were found to be valid indicators of the parasympathetic tone of calves because of large variations due to the drug and low individual variations. No measure reflected the sympathetic tone.
authors.affiliation: Adaptation et Comportements Sociaux, URH, Centre INRA de Clermont-Theix, 63122, Saint Genes-Champanelle, France. depres@clermont.inra.fr
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Després
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Veissier
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boissy
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001262:Atenolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001340:Autonomic Nerve Block; D002417:Cattle; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D004338:Drug Combinations; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D001262:Atenolol; D001285:Atropine