创伤患者伤后自主神经功能的研究

目的:探讨创伤惠者伤后自主神经的功能改变。方法:应用HRV频域分析观察创伤患者伤后自主神经功能的变化情况。30例创伤患者依照ISS评分分为轻伤、重伤和严重伤三组,分别收集伤后第1天、第7天和第14天上午8点至10点间的心电图资料,选取其中5分钟的无干扰、无早搏的心电图数据,应用频域分析法进行短时程HRV分析。结果:创伤患者伤后早期HRV的低频功率(low-frequency,LF)、高频功率(high-frequency,HF)均明显降低;但LF/HF却明显升高。结论:伤后早期自主神经功能有明显改变,即交感神经兴奋性增高,迷走神经兴奋性降低。损伤越严重,这种改变越明显。随着病情的缓解,LF、HF逐渐升高,LF/HF逐渐降低,交感神经和副交感神经之间的平衡逐渐恢复。     

电刺激迷走神经对蟾蜍心率和心率变异的影响

目的:观察不同频率迷走神经刺激对蟾蜍离体心脏的心率及心率变异的影响。方法:将蟾蜍心脏和右侧迷走交感干离体后,以不同频率电刺激神经,记录心电图曲线并作心率变异性(HRV)分析。结果:交感神经阻断后,电刺激迷走交感干,心率(HR)显著下降(P0.01),全部正常心动周期的标准差(SDNN)和相邻正常心动周期差值的均方根(RMSSD)显著升高(P0.01),不同频率刺激组之间没有明显差异;与对照组相比,各指标变化较大;给药组0.2Hz时高频(HF)显著升高(P0.01),低频/高频比值(LF/HF)明显降低(P0.05),0.8Hz时HF和LF/HF接近刺激前水平。结论:一定范围内增加刺激频率,迷走神经降低心率的作用增强;没有交感神经调节条件下的迷走神经对心率和心率变异的调节可能存在不同的机制。     

原发性高血压患者心率变异性及血压变异性与血管损害的相关性研究

目的:探讨原发性高血压患者心率变异性(HRV)及血压变异性(BPV)与血管损害的相关性。方法:选取2014年12月到2017年12月期间在我院接受治疗的原发性高血压患者94例,根据脉搏波传导速度(PWV)的不同分为对照组(60例)和血管受损组(34例)。比较两组患者的HRV、BPV指标,并分析PWV与HRV、BPV指标的相关性。结果:血管受损组的5 min心搏R-R间期平均值的标准差(SDANN)低于对照组,低频(LF)、高频(HF)、低高频之比(LF/HF)高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);血管受损组的24h平均收缩压(24h SBP)、24h平均脉压(24h PP)、白天平均收缩压(dSBP)、白天平均脉压(dPP)、夜间平均收缩压(nSBP)、夜间平均脉压(nPP)高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);PWV与LF、HF、LF/HF、24h SBP、24h PP、dSBP、dPP、nSBP、nPP均呈正相关(P0.05)。结论:原发性高血压患者部分HRV、BPV指标与PWV呈明显的相关性,说明HRV和BPV与患者的血管损害密切相关。     

皮层内刺激或冷冻阻滞体感Ⅰ区对猴的操作式条件反射和针刺镇痛作用的影响

为了研究皮层体感Ⅰ区(S_Ⅰ 区)在痛觉的产生和调制以及在针刺镇痛中的作用,以皮肤伤害性刺激引起的操作式条件反射为痛指标,用钨丝微电极记录神经元的电活动和进行皮层内刺激,并用冰盐水进行皮层局部阻滞,在10只清醒的、可以活动的猕猴上进行了实验观察。刺激皮层 S_Ⅰ 区对感受野部位皮肤痛阈可产生明显的影响。在51次实验中有46次引起了痛阈的变化,仅有5次未见明显的变化。在13次对非感受野的皮肤痛阈的影响的实验中,10次未见变化,仅有3次出现轻度变化。皮层内刺激效应往往在刺激开始就出现,并延续到刺激的全过程。停止刺激后痛阈的恢复约需4—6分钟。皮层内刺激对针刺镇痛效应的影响与其对皮肤痛阈的影响有极为密切的关系,即皮层内刺激使皮肤痛阈下降者往往是对抗针刺的镇痛效应,而使皮肤痛阈升高者往往是加强针刺的镇痛效应。在12次冷冻皮层 S_Ⅰ 区的实验中全部都表现为使感受野皮肤痛阈的升高。去冷冻后约需3—8分钟才由抑制状态回复到原来水平。而对非感受野皮肤痛阈影响的8次实验中,有6次没有产生任何影响。本实验的结果表明,皮层体感区对痛觉是有一定的调制作用,当其受到电刺激或冷冻阻滞时,均可使相应部位的皮肤痛阈降低或升高,同时还能对抗或加强针刺的镇痛效应。     

冠心病患者心率变异性与冠状动脉病变狭窄范围及严重程度的关系研究

目的:探讨冠心病患者心率变异性(HRV)与冠状动脉病变狭窄范围及严重程度的关系。方法:选取上海市第十人民医院2015年1月至2018年7月期间收治的冠心病患者220例,所有患者均行冠脉造影及24 h动态心电图检查。按狭窄范围分为单支狭窄组(n=68)、双支狭窄组(n=82)、三支狭窄组(n=70),按狭窄严重程度分为轻度组(狭窄≤50%,n=62),中度组(50%狭窄70%,n=66),重度组(狭窄≥70%,n=92),另选取51例同期于我院体检的健康志愿者作为对照组。记录冠心病患者与对照组HRV各项指标,比较不同冠脉病变狭窄范围患者、不同狭窄严重程度患者正常平均N-N间期(SDNN)、正常相邻每5minR-R间期均数标准差(SDANN)、正常相邻正常N-N间期的均方根(RMSSD)、正常相邻间期差值高于50 ms心搏数占总心搏数的百分比(pNN50)、低频(LF)、高频(HF)及低频/高频比值(LF/HF)。结果:冠心病患者与对照组RMSSD、pNN50、LF、HF比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05),冠心病患者SDNN、SDANN低于对照组,LF/HF值高于对照组(P0.05)。不同冠脉狭窄范围、不同冠脉病变狭窄严重程度患者pNN50、LF、HF整体比较无统计学差异(P0.05),随着冠脉狭窄范围的增加或狭窄病变严重程度的加重SDDN、SDANN、RMSSD逐渐降低,LF/HF值逐渐升高(P0.05)。结论:HRV是评估心脏自主功能的良好指标,该指标中SDDN、SDANN、RMSSD、LF/HF值可作为评估冠心病患者冠状动脉的狭窄程度和狭窄范围的良好指标,具有重要的临床指导意义。     

急性心肌梗死患者PCI治疗后抑郁对心率变异性、内皮功能及不良心血管事件发生率的影响

目的:探讨急性心肌梗死(AMI)患者经皮冠状动脉介入(PCI)治疗后抑郁对心率变异性(HRV)、内皮功能及不良心血管事件(MACE)发生率的影响。方法:选择2017年1月-2018年12月期间在本院接受PCI治疗的AMI患者117例作为研究对象,根据PCI术后出院当日的抑郁自评量表(SDS)评分值将其分为抑郁组(评分值≥53分)41例、非抑郁组(评分值<53分)76例。对比两组患者HRV相关指标[正常RR间期标准差(SDNN)、5 min内正常RR间期平均值标准差(SDANN)、相邻正常RR间期差值均方的平方根(RMSSD)、总功率(TP)、低频功率(LF)、高频功率(HF)、低频功率与高频功率比值(LF/HF)]、内皮功能指标[内皮依赖性血管舒张功能(FMD)、非内皮依赖性血管舒张功能(NMD)]水平差异,记录两组随访期内MACE发生情况。结果:PCI术后出院当日,抑郁组患者的HRV时域指标SDNN、SDANN、RMSSD水平低于非抑郁组患者;频域指标中LF、LF/HF的水平高于非抑郁组,HF的水平低于非抑郁组(P<0.05),两组患者TP水平的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。抑郁组患者的FMD、NMD水平均低于非抑郁组患者,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。随访期内,抑郁组患者的MACE总发生率、再发心肌梗死发生率高于非抑郁组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组患者顽固性心绞痛、新发心肌梗死、心力衰竭、心源性死亡发生率的差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:AMI患者PCI后合并抑郁可能对心血管系统造成负面影响并最终增加MACE的发生风险。     

血管紧张素Ⅱ对家兔心率变异的影响

目的:研究血管紧张Ⅱ(AngⅡ)对家兔心率变异(HRV)影响的机制。方法:分别给家兔静脉输注生理盐水,AngⅡ,溴化六烃季胺(HEXB),HEXB+AngⅡ检测安静状态下连续5 min的心电图并进行HRV的时域和频域分析。结果:血管紧张素Ⅱ组的时域指标SDNN和RMSSD较对照组明显降低,频域指标低频(LF)升高,而高频(HF)和总功率(TP)明显降低;HEXB+AngⅡ组与HEXB组相比无明显区别。结论:交感神经阻断剂HEXB不能影响AngⅡ的作用,AngⅡ主要通过抑制中枢自主神经的传出,降低迷走神经张力来降低HRV。     

清醒高血压大鼠心率变异分析的动物模型建立

目的：研究两种不同血浆肾素水平高血压大鼠心率变异的变化,进而探讨肾素。血管紧张素系统（RAS）影响心率变异（HRV）的机制。方法：制备两种高血压大鼠模型,采集其连续心电图数据。分析HRV的变化。并测定血浆血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）的浓度。结果：肾性高血压大鼠血浆AngⅡ明显升高（P〈0．01）,心率变异频域指标中TP（总功率谱）、VLF（极低频功率）、LF（低频功率）和HF（高频功率）明显降低,LF／HF（低高频比）升高;DOCA-盐型高血压大鼠血浆AngⅡ水平明显降低,TP、VLF、LF和HF也明显降低。LF／HF比值升高。结论：两种不同血浆肾素水平的高血压大鼠交感和迷走神经均受损,同时交感神经活性相对占优势;提示肾素血管紧张素系统是通过脑内RAS的激活而影响HRV,不是循环RAS的外周作用。     

特发性室性早搏与心率变异性的相关性分析

目的:探讨特发性室性早搏(IPVCs)与心率变异性(HRV)的相关性。方法:回顾性分析2016年2月～2018年2月我院心内科收治的150例IPVCs患者的临床资料,根据负荷量、心功能,将IPVCs患者分别分为低负荷组(1%～10%,n=51)、中负荷组(10%～20%,n=65)、高负荷组(20%,n=34)及LVEF50%组(n=106)、LVEF≤50%组(n=44)。另选取同期健康者50例作为对照组。检测和比较各组HRV相关指标变化,并分析IPVCs与HRV的相关性。结果:高负荷组RMMSD、PNN50明显低于对照组、低负荷组和中负荷组,中负荷组和高负荷组LF、HF明显低于对照组、低负荷组(P0.05),高负荷组LF、HF均明显低于中负荷组(P0.05)。LVEF≤50%组RMMSD、PNN50、LF、HF较对照组、LVEF50%组明显降低(P0.05)。IPVCs负荷与LVEDD、LVESD呈显著正相关,与LVEF呈显著负相关(P0.05)。IPVCs负荷与RMMSD、PNN50、LF、HF呈显著负相关(P0.05)。结论:IPVCs的发生与自主神经功能调节失衡有关,迷走神经张力减弱具有重要作用,从而诱发HRV异常。     

2型糖尿病患者心率变异性时域及频域参数与颈动脉粥样硬化的相关性分析

摘要 目的：探讨2型糖尿病患者心率变异性（HRV）时域及频域参数与颈动脉粥样硬化（CAS）患病风险的相关性。方法：根据纳入与排除标准共收集2019年7月至2021年8月上海交通大学医学院附属第九人民医院内分泌代谢科住院的377例2型糖尿病患者的临床资料,并通过3分钟的心电图记录HRV时域[R-R间隔的标准差（SDNN）、相邻R-R间隔差值的均方根（RMSSD）、相邻R-R间隔差值>50 ms的数目占所有R-R间隔总数百分比（PNN50）]和频域[低频功率（LF）、高频功率（HF）、LF/HF、总功率（TP）]参数。根据颈动脉超声有无斑块形成分为无CAS组和CAS组,分析其与HRV各参数的关系。结果：与无CAS组相比,CAS组年龄、心血管疾病、体质量指数（BMI）、糖化血红蛋白A1c（HbA1C）、甘油三酯（TG）水平明显升高,舒张压（DBP）、空腹血糖（FPG）水平降低,差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。CAS组大多数HRV参数低于无CAS组,包括SDNN、RMSSD、PNN50、LF、LF/HF、TP,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05或P＜0.01）。SDNN与年龄、病程、心血管疾病、饮酒呈负相关（P＜0.05或P＜0.01）;RMSSD与病程、饮酒呈负相关（P＜0.05或P＜0.01）;PNN50与病程呈负相关（P＜0.05）;LF与年龄、病程、心血管疾病呈负相关,与DBP、低密度脂蛋白（LDL）呈正相关（P＜0.05或P＜0.01）;HF与年龄、病程呈负相关,与LDL呈正相关（P＜0.05或P＜0.01）;LF/HF与年龄、心血管疾病、TG呈负相关（P＜0.05或P＜0.01）;TP与年龄、病程、心血管疾病呈负相关,与DBP、LDL呈正相关（P＜0.05或P＜0.01）。使用多因素logistic回归对部分可能的混杂因素进行校正后,SDNN、RMSSD、LF、LF/HF、TP降低仍然与CAS发生的风险增加相关（均P＜0.05）。进一步按糖化血红蛋白（≤7.0%、＞7.0%）分层后分析,糖化血红蛋白＞7.0%组的患者SDNN、RMSSD、LF、TP的降低与CAS发生的风险增加相关（P＜0.05）,而在糖化血红蛋白≤7.0%组,仅RMSSD、PNN50有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论：2型糖尿病患者HRV参数SDNN、RMSSD、LF、TP降低与CAS发生的风险增加有关,且糖化血红蛋白＞7.0%的患者有更多的HRV参数（SDNN、RMSSD、LF、TP）与CAS相关。     

Involvement of the sympatho-vagal balance in the formation of respiration-dependent oscillations in the human cardiovascular system

The effect of deep breathing controlled in both rate and amplitude on the heart rate variability (HRV) and respiration-dependent blood flow oscillations was studied in the forearm and finger-pad skin of healthy 18- to 25-year-old volunteers. In order to reveal the effects of the divisions of the autonomic nervous system on the amplitudes of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and skin blood flow oscillations, we studied the indices of the cardiovascular system in two groups of subjects with respectively lower and higher values of the sympatho-vagal balance. This index was calculated as a ratio of low frequency and high frequency HRV spectral power (LF/HF) under the conditions of spontaneous breathing. It was found that, in subjects with a predominant parasympathetic tone, the amplitudes of RSA and the rate of blood flow in the finger-pad skin were higher compared to subjects with a predominant sympathetic tone during respiration with the frequency lower than 4 cycle/min. In the forearm skin, where sympathetic innervation is weaker compared to the finger-pad skin, there were no significant differences in respiration-dependent oscillations of the rate of blood flow in two groups of subjects.     

1,6--二磷酸果糖联合局部封闭Calot三角对胆囊切除术心率

目的：观察胆囊切除术围术期输注1,6--磷酸果糖联合术中局部封闭Calot三角对血流动力学及心率变异性的影响。方法：择期胆囊切除术患者40例,年龄28-67岁,ASA分级Ⅰ-Ⅱ级,分为对照组（n=20）和试验组,试验组（n=20）患者在切皮前静脉滴注1,6--二磷酸果糖,在胆囊牵拉前在Calot三角注射2%利多卡因5ml,选择全凭静脉麻醉（TIVA）,气管内插管,机控通气。分别于胆囊牵拉前5分钟（T0）、牵拉时（T1）、牵拉五分钟（T2）,牵拉十分钟（T3）监测两组患者心率变异性和血流动力学。结果：牵拉瞬间对照组和试验组,TP值降低（p〈0.05）;牵拉五分钟时,对照组MAP、HR、HFnu较牵拉前和牵拉时降低有显著差异（p〈0.01）,且LF/HF比值较其他时间点降低（p〈0.05）;试验组HR牵拉前和牵拉时降低有统计学意义（p〈0.05）。牵拉十分钟时,两组TP较牵拉前降低有统计学意义（p〈0.05）;对照组MAP、HR较牵拉前和牵拉时降低有统计学意义（p〈0.05）。结论：切皮前静脉滴注1,6--二磷酸果糖联合局部封闭Calot三角对心率变异性和血流动力学影响小,可降低胆心反射对自主神经功能的影响。     

Acute impact of intermittent pneumatic leg compression frequency on limb hemodynamics, vascular function, and skeletal muscle gene expression in humans

The mechanisms by which intermittent pneumatic leg compression (IPC) treatment effectively treats symptoms associated with peripheral artery disease remain speculative. With the aim of gaining mechanistic insight into IPC treatment, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of IPC frequency on limb hemodynamics, vascular function, and skeletal muscle gene expression. In this two study investigation, healthy male subjects underwent an hour of either high-frequency (HF; 2-s inflation/3-s deflation) or low-frequency (LF; 4-s inflation/16-s deflation) IPC treatment of the foot and calf. In study 1 (n = 11; 23.5 ± 4.7 yr), subjects underwent both HF and LF treatment on separate days. Doppler/ultrasonography was used to measure popliteal artery diameter and blood velocity at baseline and during IPC treatment. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and peak reactive hyperemia blood flow (RHBF) were determined before and after IPC treatment. In study 2 (n = 19; 22.0 ± 4.6 yr), skeletal muscle biopsies were taken from the lateral gastrocnemius of the treated and control limb at baseline and at 30- and 150-min posttreatment. Quantitative PCR was used to assess mRNA concentrations of genes associated with inflammation and vascular remodeling. No treatment effect on vascular function was observed. Cuff deflation resulted in increased blood flow (BF) and shear rate (SR) in both treatments at the onset of treatment compared with baseline (P < 0.01). BF and SR significantly diminished by 45 min of HF treatment only (P < 0.01). Both treatments reduced BF and SR and elevated oscillatory shear index compared with baseline (P < 0.01) during cuff inflation. IPC decreased the mRNA expression of cysteine-rich protein 61 from baseline and controls (P <0 .01) and connective tissue growth factor from baseline (P < 0.05) in a frequency-dependent manner. In conclusion, a single session of IPC acutely impacts limb hemodynamics and skeletal muscle gene expression in a frequency-dependent manner but does not impact vascular function.     

Detection of low- and high-frequency rhythms in the variability of skin sympathetic nerve activity

Spectral analysis of skin blood flow has demonstrated low-frequency (LF, 0.03-0.15 Hz) and high-frequency (HF, 0.15-0.40 Hz) oscillations, similar to oscillations in R-R interval, systolic pressure, and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). It is not known whether the oscillatory profile of skin blood flow is secondary to oscillations in arterial pressure or to oscillations in skin sympathetic nerve activity (SSNA). MSNA and SSNA differ markedly with regard to control mechanisms and morphology. MSNA contains vasoconstrictor fibers directed to muscle vasculature, closely regulated by baroreceptors. SSNA contains both vasomotor and sudomotor fibers, differentially responding to arousals and thermal stimuli. Nevertheless, MSNA and SSNA share certain common characteristics. We tested the hypothesis that LF and HF oscillatory components are evident in SSNA, similar to the oscillatory components present in MSNA. We studied 18 healthy normal subjects and obtained sequential measurements of MSNA and SSNA from the peroneal nerve during supine rest. Measurements were also obtained of the electrocardiogram, beat-by-beat blood pressure (Finapres), and respiration. Spectral analysis showed LF and HF oscillations in MSNA, coherent with similar oscillations in both R-R interval and systolic pressure. The HF oscillation of MSNA was coherent with respiration. Similarly, LF and HF spectral components were evident in SSNA variability, coherent with corresponding variability components of R-R interval and systolic pressure. HF oscillations of SSNA were coherent with respiration. Thus our data suggest that these oscillations may be fundamental characteristics shared by MSNA and SSNA, possibly reflecting common central mechanisms regulating sympathetic outflows subserving different regions and functions.     

Circadian rhythm of airways caliber and its autonomic modulation

ABSTRACT

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is one of the effector pathways for circadian variation of many physiological parameters. Autonomic tone and airways caliber have been reported to exhibit circadian variation in separate studies. A simultaneous investigation of heart rate variability (HRV) and airway caliber might ascertain how airway caliber is modulated by autonomic tone. This study was planned to identify the variations in airway caliber and autonomic function tone during a 24-hour span. A total of 56 healthy male subjects with almost similar daily routines were studied. Time domain, frequency domain and nonlinear analysis of R-R interval from 5 min electrocardiogram (ECG) was done seven times during the daytime wake span at 3-hour intervals starting at 05:00 h in the morning until 23:00 h in the night. Simultaneously peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was determined using a mini Wright’s peak flow meter. Rhythmometric analysis was done for PEFR and HRV parameters. Significant circadian variation in low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) variance was identified in this group of healthy subjects. The circadian rhythm of LF variance was characterized by a gradual increase and corresponding reciprocal change in HF variance from morning until night. The LF/HF ratio and SD2/SD1 ratio reflecting sympatho-vagal balance showed low to high values from morning to evening. The acrophase of the PEFR temporal pattern is similar to that of LF power and almost opposite in phase to that of HF power. PEFR is positively correlated with LF power. The circadian rhythm of airway caliber co-varies with cardiac autonomic tone. It appears that the temporal pattern of cardiac autonomic tone precedes in time that of airways caliber, thereby suggesting the latter operates under the modulatory effect of the 24-hour pattern in sympatho-vagal balance.     

Very low-frequency blood pressure variability depends on voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channels in conscious rats

The mechanisms generating high- frequency (HF) and low-frequency (LF) blood pressure variability (BPV) are reasonably well understood. However, little is known about the origin of very low-frequency (VLF) BPV. We tested the hypothesis that VLF BPV is generated by L-type Ca(2+) channel-dependent mechanisms. In conscious rats, arterial blood pressure was recorded during control conditions (n = 8) and ganglionic blockade (n = 7) while increasing doses (0.01-5.0 mg.100 micro l(-1).h(-1)) of the L-type Ca(2+) channel blocker nifedipine were infused intravenously. VLF (0.02-0.2 Hz), LF (0.2-0.6 Hz), and HF (0.6-3.0 Hz) BPV were assessed by spectral analysis of systolic blood pressure. During control conditions, nifedipine caused dose-dependent declines in VLF and LF BPV, whereas HF BPV was not affected. At the highest dose of nifedipine, VLF BPV was reduced by 86% compared with baseline, indicating that VLF BPV is largely mediated by L-type Ca(2+) channel-dependent mechanisms. VLF BPV appeared to be relatively more dependent on L-type Ca(2+) channels than LF BPV because lower doses of nifedipine were required to significantly reduce VLF BPV than to reduce LF BPV. Ganglionic blockade markedly reduced VLF and LF BPV and abolished the nifedipine-induced dose-dependent declines in VLF and LF BPV, suggesting that VLF and LF BPV require sympathetic activity to be evident. In conclusion, VLF BPV is largely mediated by L-type Ca(2+) channel-dependent mechanisms. We speculate that VLF BPV is generated by myogenic vascular responses to spontaneously occurring perturbations of blood pressure. Other factors, such as sympathetic nervous system activity, may elicit a permissive effect on VLF BPV by increasing vascular myogenic responsiveness.     

Power spectral analysis of heart rate variability for assessment of diurnal variation of autonomic nervous activity in guinea pigs.

We established characteristics of power spectral analysis of heart rate variability, and assessed the diurnal variations of autonomic nervous function in guinea pigs. For this purpose, an electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded for 24 hr from conscious and unrestrained guinea pigs using a telemetry system. There were two major spectral components, at low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) bands, in the power spectrum of HR variability. On the basis of these data, we defined two frequency bands of interest: LF (0.07-0.7 Hz) and HF (0.7-3.0 Hz). The power of LF was higher than that of HF in the normal guinea pigs. Atropine significantly reduced power at HF. Propranolol also significantly reduced power at LF. Furthermore, the decrease in the parasympathetic mechanism produced by atropine was reflected in a slight increase in the LF/HF ratio. The LF/HF ratio appeared to follow the reductions of sympathetic activity produced by propranolol. Autonomic blockade studies indicated that the HF component reflected parasympathetic activity and the LF/HF ratio seemed to be a convenient index of autonomic balance. Nocturnal patterns, in which the values of heart rate in the dark phase (20:00-06:00) were higher than those in the light phase (06:00-20:00), were observed. However, the HF, LF and the LF/HF ratio showed no daily pattern. These results suggest that the autonomic nervous function in guinea pigs has no clear circadian rhythmicity. Therefore, this information may be useful for future studies concerning the autonomic nervous function in this species.     

Growth hormone-mediated breakdown of body fat: insulin and leptin responses to GH are modulated by diet composition and caloric intake in old rats.

This work was performed to elucidate whether growth hormone (GH)-mediated loss of adipose tissue and responses in plasma insulin and leptin are modulated by diet composition. 12-month-old rats were first fed a high-fat (HF) diet or a low-fat (LF) diet for 14 weeks. After that, GH or saline was administered to rat groups that were maintained on either HF or LF diets or that were switched from the HF to the LF diet. All 6 groups had free access to food. One additional saline group was pair-fed with the GH group that was switched from the HF to the LF diet. The caloric consumption of this latter group was also translated to yet another GH group receiving restricted amounts of the HF diet. GH was given in a total dose of 4 mg/kg/d for three weeks. After sacrifice, blood was collected and tissues were excised. In groups injected with saline, the weight of excised adipose tissue was 60 +/- 4.7, 41 +/- 3.8 and 50 +/- 4.5 g in animals that continued with the HF diet, LF diet, or that were switched from HF to LF, respectively. Corresponding figures after GH treatment were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased to 38 +/- 2.7, 30 +/- 2.3, and 31 +/- 2.7 g, respectively. Pair-feeding had no effect, whereas only 26 +/- 3.0 g of adipose tissue was retrieved in rats fed restricted amounts of HF diet while receiving GH. In this group, plasma insulin and leptin were also significantly (p < 0.05) depressed compared with other GH groups, especially to the group fed the unrestricted HF diet (203 +/- 35 vs. 1345 +/- 160 pmol/l and 9.3 +/- 1.2 vs. 31 +/- 4.4 micro g/l). In conclusion, this study shows that GH mediates breakdown of adipose tissue under a variety of dietary conditions, and that induction of hyperinsulinemia can be prevented if GH treatment is combined with restricted feeding of a diet which is relatively low in carbohydrates and rich in fat. This will also promote a fall of plasma leptin.     

Responses in acral and non-acral skin vasomotion and temperature during lowering of ambient temperature

Arteriovenous anastomoses (AVA) in acral skin (palms and soles) have a huge capacity to shunt blood directly from the arteries to the superficial venous plexus of the extremities. We hypothesized that acral skin, which supplies blood to the superficial venous plexus, has a stronger influence on blood flow adjustments during cooling in thermoneutral subjects than does non-acral skin. Thirteen healthy subjects were exposed to stepwise cooling from 32 °C to 25 °C and 17 °C in a climate chamber. Laser Doppler flux and skin temperature were measured simultaneously from the left and right third finger pulp and bilateral upper arm skin. Coherence and correlation analyses were performed of short-term fluctuations at each temperature interval. The flux from finger pulps showed the synchronous spontaneous fluctuations characteristic of skin areas containing AVAs. Fluctuation frequency, amplitude and synchronicity were all higher at 25 °C than at 32 °C and 17 °C (p<0.02). Bilateral flux from the upper arm skin showed an irregular, asynchronous vasomotor pattern with small amplitudes which were independent of ambient temperature. At 32 °C, ipsilateral median flux values from the right arm (95% confidence intervals) were 492 arbitrary units (au) (417, 537) in finger pulp and 43 au (35, 60) in upper arm skin. Flux values gradually decreased in finger pulp to 246 au (109, 363) at 25 °C, before an abrupt fall occurred at a median room temperature of 24 °C, resulting in a flux value of 79 au (31, 116) at 17 °C. In the upper arm skin a gradual fall throughout the cooling period to 21 au (13, 27) at 17 °C was observed. The fact that the response of blood flow to ambient cooling is stronger in acral skin than in non-acral skin suggests that AVAs have a greater capacity to adjust blood flow in thermoneutral zone than arterioles in non-acral skin.