Importance of ventilation in modulating interaction between sympathetic drive and cardiovascular variability

2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (2) ◽  
pp. H722-H729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Van De Borne ◽  
Nicola Montano ◽  
Krzysztof Narkiewicz ◽  
Jean P. Degaute ◽  
Alberto Malliani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sympathetic Nerve ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Minute Ventilation ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Nerve Activity ◽  
Cardiovascular Variability ◽  
Controlled Breathing ◽  
End Tidal ◽  
Cardiovascular Rhythms

Chemoreflex stimulation elicits both hyperventilation and sympathetic activation, each of which may have different influences on oscillatory characteristics of cardiovascular variability. We examined the influence of hyperventilation on the interactions between changes in R-R interval (RR) and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and changes in neurocirculatory variability, in 14 healthy subjects. We performed spectral analysis of RR and MSNA variability during each of the following interventions: 1) controlled breathing, 2) maximal end-expiratory apnea, 3) isocapnic voluntary hyperventilation, and 4) hypercapnia-induced hyperventilation. MSNA increased from 100% during controlled breathing to 170 ± 25% during apnea ( P = 0.02). RR was unchanged, but normalized low-frequency (LF) variability of both RR and MSNA increased markedly ( P < 0.001). During isocapnic hyperventilation, minute ventilation increased to 20.2 ± 1.4 l/min ( P < 0.0001). During hypercapnic hyperventilation, minute ventilation also increased (to 19.7 ± 1.7 l/min) as did end-tidal CO2 (both P < 0.0001). MSNA remained unchanged during isocapnic hyperventilation (104 ± 7%) but increased to 241 ± 49% during hypercapnic hyperventilation ( P < 0.01). RR decreased during both isocapnic and hypercapnic hyperventilation ( P < 0.05). However, normalized LF variability of RR and of MSNA decreased ( P < 0.05) during both isocapnic and hypercapnic hyperventilation, despite the tachycardia and heightened sympathetic nerve traffic. In conclusion, marked respiratory oscillations in autonomic drive induced by hyperventilation may induce dissociation between RR, MSNA, and neurocirculatory variability, perhaps by suppressing central genesis and/or inhibiting transmission of LF cardiovascular rhythms.

Relation between QT interval variability and muscle sympathetic nerve activity in normal subjects

2015 ◽  
Vol 309 (7) ◽  
pp. H1218-H1224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatima El-Hamad ◽  
Elisabeth Lambert ◽  
Derek Abbott ◽  
Mathias Baumert
Keyword(s):  
Supine Position ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve ◽  
Qt Interval ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Nerve Activity ◽  
Head Up Tilt ◽  
Low Frequency Power

Beat-to-beat variability of the QT interval (QTV) is sought to provide an indirect noninvasive measure of sympathetic nerve activity, but a formal quantification of this relationship has not been provided. In this study we used power contribution analysis to study the relationship between QTV and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). ECG and MSNA were recorded in 10 healthy subjects in the supine position and after 40° head-up tilt. Power spectrum analysis was performed using a linear autoregressive model with two external inputs: heart period (RR interval) variability (RRV) and MSNA. Total and low-frequency power of QTV was decomposed into contributions by RRV, MSNA, and sources independent of RRV and MSNA. Results show that the percentage of MSNA power contribution to QT is very small and does not change with tilt. RRV power contribution to QT power is notable and decreases with tilt, while the greatest percentage of QTV is independent of RRV and MSNA in the supine position and after 40° head-up tilt. In conclusion, beat-to-beat QTV in normal subjects does not appear to be significantly affected by the rhythmic modulations in MSNA following low to moderate orthostatic stimulation. Therefore, MSNA oscillations may not represent a useful surrogate for cardiac sympathetic nerve activity at moderate levels of activation, or, alternatively, sympathetic influences on QTV are complex and not quantifiable with linear shift-invariant autoregressive models.

scholarly journals Heart rate variability and muscle sympathetic nerve activity response to acute stress: the effect of breathing

2010 ◽  
Vol 299 (1) ◽  
pp. R80-R91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay D. DeBeck ◽  
Stewart R. Petersen ◽  
Kelvin E. Jones ◽  
Michael K. Stickland
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve ◽  
Spontaneous Breathing ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Cold Pressor ◽  
Isometric Handgrip ◽  
Nerve Activity ◽  
Controlled Breathing

Previous research has suggested a relationship between low-frequency power of heart rate variability (HRV; LF in normalized units, LFnu) and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). However, investigations have not systematically controlled for breathing, which can modulate both HRV and MSNA. Accordingly, the aims of this experiment were to investigate the possibility of parallel responses in MSNA and HRV (LFnu) to selected acute stressors and the effect of controlled breathing. After data were obtained at rest, 12 healthy males (28 ± 5 yr) performed isometric handgrip exercise (30% maximal voluntary contraction) and the cold pressor test in random order, and were then exposed to hypoxia (inspired fraction of O2 = 0.105) for 7 min, during randomly assigned spontaneous and controlled breathing conditions (20 breaths/min, constant tidal volume, isocapnic). MSNA was recorded from the peroneal nerve, whereas HRV was calculated from ECG. At rest, controlled breathing did not alter MSNA but decreased LFnu ( P < 0.05 for all) relative to spontaneous breathing. MSNA increased in response to all stressors regardless of breathing. LFnu increased with exercise during both breathing conditions. During cold pressor, LFnu decreased when breathing was spontaneous, whereas in the controlled breathing condition, LFnu was unchanged from baseline. Hypoxia elicited increases in LFnu when breathing was controlled, but not during spontaneous breathing. The parallel changes observed during exercise and controlled breathing during hypoxia suggest that LFnu may be an indication of sympathetic outflow in select conditions. However, since MSNA and LFnu did not change in parallel with all stressors, a cautious approach to the use of LFnu as a marker of sympathetic activity is warranted.

Hemodynamics and muscle sympathetic nerve activity after 8 h of sustained hypoxia in healthy humans

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (5) ◽  
pp. H3027-H3035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renaud Tamisier ◽  
Brian E. Hunt ◽  
Geoffrey S. Gilmartin ◽  
Mathew Curley ◽  
Amit Anand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sympathetic Nerve ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Respiratory Control ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Nerve Activity ◽  
Healthy Humans ◽  
End Tidal ◽  
Sustained Hypoxia ◽  
Ventilatory Response To Hypoxia

Hemodynamics, muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), and forearm blood flow were evaluated in 12 normal subjects before, during (1 and 7 h), and after ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia achieved with 8 h of continuous poikilocapnic hypoxia. All results are means ± SD. Subjects experienced mean oxygen saturation of 84.3 ± 2.3% during exposure. The exposure resulted in hypoxic acclimatization as suggested by end-tidal CO2 [44.7 ± 2.7 (pre) vs. 39.5 ± 2.2 mmHg (post), P < 0.001] and by ventilatory response to hypoxia [1.2 ± 0.8 (pre) vs. 2.3 ± 1.3 l·min−1·1% fall in saturation−1 (post), P < 0.05]. Subjects exhibited a significant increase in heart rate across the exposure that remained elevated even upon return to room air breathing compared with preexposure (67.3 ± 15.9 vs. 59.8 ± 12.1 beats/min, P < 0.008). Although arterial pressure exhibited a trend toward an increase across the exposure, this did not reach significance. MSNA initially increased from room air to poikilocapnic hypoxia (26.2 ± 10.3 to 32.0 ± 10.3 bursts/100 beats, not significant at 1 h of exposure); however, MSNA then decreased below the normoxic baseline despite continued poikilocapnic hypoxia (20.9 ± 8.0 bursts/100 beats, 7 h Hx vs. 1 h Hx; P < 0.008 at 7 h). MSNA decreased further after subjects returned to room air (16.6 ± 6.0 bursts/100 beats; P < 0.008 compared with baseline). Forearm conductance increased after exposure from 2.9 ± 1.5 to 4.3 ± 1.6 conductance units ( P < 0.01). These findings indicate alterations of cardiovascular and respiratory control following 8 h of sustained hypoxia producing not only acclimatization but sympathoinhibition.

scholarly journals Calibrated variability of muscle sympathetic nerve activity during graded head-up tilt in humans and its link with noradrenaline data and cardiovascular rhythms

2016 ◽  
Vol 310 (11) ◽  
pp. R1134-R1143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Marchi ◽  
Vlasta Bari ◽  
Beatrice De Maria ◽  
Murray Esler ◽  
Elisabeth Lambert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sympathetic Nerve ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Nerve Activity ◽  
Low Pass ◽  
Head Up Tilt ◽  
Normalized Units ◽  
Neural Discharge ◽  
Relationship Of

Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) variability is traditionally computed through a low-pass filtering procedure that requires normalization. We proposed a new beat-to-beat MSNA variability computation that preserves dimensionality typical of an integrated neural discharge (i.e., bursts per unit of time). The calibrated MSNA (cMSNA) variability technique is contrasted with the traditional uncalibrated MSNA (ucMSNA) version. The powers of cMSNA and ucMSNA variabilities in the low-frequency (LF, from 0.04 to 0.15 Hz) band were computed with those of the heart period (HP) of systolic and diastolic arterial pressure (SAP and DAP, respectively) in seven healthy subjects (age, 20–28 years; median, 22 years; 5 women) during a graded head-up tilt. Subjects were sequentially tilted at 0°, 20°, 30°, 40°, and 60° table inclinations. The LF powers of ucMSNA and HP variabilities were expressed in normalized units (LFnu), whereas all remaining spectral markers were expressed in absolute units. We found that 1) the LF power of cMSNA variability was positively correlated with tilt angle, whereas the LFnu power of the ucMSNA series was uncorrelated; 2) the LF power of cMSNA variability was correlated with LF powers of SAP and DAP, LFnu power of HP and noradrenaline concentration, whereas the relationship of the LFnu power of ucMSNA variability to LF powers of SAP and DAP was weaker and that to LFnu power of HP was absent; and 3) the stronger relationship of cMSNA variability to SAP and DAP spectral markers compared with the ucMSNA series was confirmed individually. The cMSNA variability appears to be more suitable in describing sympathetic control in humans than traditional ucMSNA variability.

Low-frequency electroacupuncture and physical exercise decrease high muscle sympathetic nerve activity in polycystic ovary syndrome

2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (2) ◽  
pp. R387-R395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabet Stener-Victorin ◽  
Elizabeth Jedel ◽  
Per Olof Janson ◽  
Yrsa Bergmann Sverrisdottir
Keyword(s):  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve ◽  
Untreated Control ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Polycystic Ovary ◽  
Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Burst Frequency ◽  
Nerve Activity

We have recently shown that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with high muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). Animal studies support the concept that low-frequency electroacupuncture (EA) and physical exercise, via stimulation of ergoreceptors and somatic afferents in the muscles, may modulate the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of these interventions on sympathetic nerve activity in women with PCOS. In a randomized controlled trial, 20 women with PCOS were randomly allocated to one of three groups: low-frequency EA ( n = 9), physical exercise ( n = 5), or untreated control ( n = 6) during 16 wk. Direct recordings of multiunit efferent postganglionic MSNA in a muscle fascicle of the peroneal nerve before and following 16 wk of treatment. Biometric, hemodynamic, endocrine, and metabolic parameters were measured. Low-frequency EA ( P = 0.036) and physical exercise ( P = 0.030) decreased MSNA burst frequency compared with the untreated control group. The low-frequency EA group reduced sagittal diameter ( P = 0.001), while the physical exercise group reduced body weight ( P = 0.004) and body mass index ( P = 0.004) compared with the untreated control group. Sagittal diameter was related to MSNA burst frequency ( Rs = 0.58, P < 0.005) in the EA group. No correlation was found for body mass index and MSNA in the exercise group. There were no differences between the groups in hemodynamic, endocrine, and metabolic variables. For the first time we demonstrate that low-frequency EA and physical exercise lowers high sympathetic nerve activity in women with PCOS. Thus, treatment with low-frequency EA or physical exercise with the aim to reduce MSNA may be of importance for women with PCOS.

scholarly journals Hyperoxia attenuates muscle sympathetic nerve activity following isocapnic hypoxia in humans

2010 ◽  
Vol 108 (4) ◽  
pp. 906-912 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan S. Querido ◽  
Paul M. Kennedy ◽  
A. William Sheel
Keyword(s):  
Sympathetic Nerve ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Minute Ventilation ◽  
Common Peroneal Nerve ◽  
Burst Frequency ◽  
Nerve Activity ◽  
Oxyhemoglobin Saturation ◽  
Carotid Chemoreceptors ◽  
Hypoxia Exposure

Hypoxia may sensitize the carotid chemoreceptors, resulting in a sustained elevation of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) that outlasts the hypoxic stimulus. To test this hypothesis, we determined the effect of carotid body inhibition on the sustained elevation of MSNA following isocapnic hypoxia in humans. Seven healthy subjects (5 male, 2 female) breathed 100% O2 (hyperoxia) for 1 min before (2 interventions) and after (2–3 interventions) 20 min of isocapnic hypoxia (80% arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation). MSNA was continuously recorded from the common peroneal nerve with microneurography. There was no effect of hyperoxia on MSNA before exposure to isocapnic hypoxia. During the isocapnic hypoxia exposure, there was an increase in minute ventilation and heart rate that subsided once hypoxia was terminated. In contrast, there was an increase in MSNA burst frequency that persisted for ∼25 min after cessation of the stimulus. Hyperoxia resulted in a transient reduction in MSNA burst frequency of 28% ( P < 0.05), 15% ( P < 0.05), and 9% ( P > 0.05) in the three posthypoxia interventions, respectively. Our results suggest that input from the carotid chemoreceptors is obligatory for the sustained elevation of MSNA initiated by chemoreflex stimulation. We attribute the decrease in MSNA to a transient hyperoxia-induced attenuation of carotid chemoreceptor sensitivity.

Spontaneous fluctuations in the peripheral photoplethysmographic waveform: roles of arterial pressure and muscle sympathetic nerve activity

2012 ◽  
Vol 302 (3) ◽  
pp. H826-H836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory S. H. Chan ◽  
Azharuddin Fazalbhoy ◽  
Ingvars Birznieks ◽  
Vaughan G. Macefield ◽  
Paul M. Middleton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arterial Pressure ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Muscle Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Arterial Pressure Waveform ◽  
Clinical Value ◽  
Nerve Activity ◽  
Sympathetic Influence ◽  
Spontaneous Fluctuations

Assessment of spontaneous slow waves in the peripheral blood volume using the photoplethysmogram (PPG) has shown potential clinical value, but the physiological correlates of these fluctuations have not been fully elucidated. This study addressed the contribution of arterial pressure and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in beat-to-beat PPG variability in resting humans under spontaneous breathing conditions. Peripheral PPG waveforms were measured from the fingertip, earlobe, and toe in young and healthy individuals ( n = 13), together with the arterial pressure waveform, electrocardiogram, respiration, and direct measurement of MSNA by microneurography. Cross-spectral coherence analysis revealed that among the PPG waveforms, low-frequency fluctuations (0.04–0.15 Hz) in the ear PPG had the highest coherence with arterial pressure (0.71 ± 0.15) and MSNA (0.44 ± 0.18, with a peak of 0.71 ± 0.16 at 0.10 ± 0.03 Hz). The normalized midfrequency powers (0.08–0.15 Hz), with an emphasis on the 0.1-Hz region, were positively correlated between MSNA and the ear PPG ( r = 0.77, P = 0.002). Finger and toe PPGs had lower coherence with arterial pressure (0.35 ± 0.10 and 0.30 ± 0.11, respectively) and MSNA (0.33 ± 0.10 and 0.26 ± 0.10, respectively) in the LF band but displayed higher coherence between themselves (0.54 ± 0.09) compared with the ear ( P < 0.001), which may suggest the dominance of regional vasomotor activities and a common sympathetic influence in the glabrous skin. These findings highlight the differential mechanisms governing PPG waveform fluctuations across different body sites. Spontaneous PPG variability in the ear includes a major contribution from arterial pressure and MSNA, which may provide a rationale for its clinical utility.

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