Changes in respiratory activity induced by mastication in humans.

We studied the influence of mastication on respiratory activity in nine healthy volunteers who were requested to masticate a 5-g chewing gum bolus at a spontaneous rate (SR) for 5 min and "at the maximum possible rate" (MPR) for 1 min. Significant increases in respiratory frequency were induced by SR mastication due to a decrease in both the inspiratory and expiratory time. Tidal volume displayed slight nonsignificant decreases, but minute ventilation and mean inspiratory flow significantly increased. The duty cycle (TI/TT) did not change significantly. Total airway resistance significantly increased. Both peak and rate of rise of the integrated electromyographic activity of inspiratory muscles presented marked increases, accompanied by the appearance of a low level of tonic muscular activity. Similar but more intense effects on respiratory activity were induced by MPR mastication; in addition, a significant decrease in tidal volume and a significant increase in TI/TT were observed. Rhythmic handgrip exercise performed at metabolic rates comparable to those attained during SR or MPR mastication induced similar changes in the drive and time components of the breathing pattern, although accompanied respectively by nonsignificant or significant increases in tidal volume. Furthermore, the frequency of SR mastication significantly entrained the respiratory rhythm. The results suggest that mastication-induced hyperpnea does not merely represent a ventilatory response to exercise but also reflects complex interactions between respiratory and nonrespiratory functions of the upper airway and chest wall muscles.     

The circadian rhythm of heart rate variability

Purpose: In recent years, the measurement of heart rate variability (HRV) has gained ground even outside research settings in everyday clinical and outpatient practice and in health promotion. Methods: Using the search terms “heart rate variability”, “hrv” and “circadian”, a systematic review was carried out in the PubMed database to find original work that analysed the course of HRV parameters over a 24-h period. Results: A total of 26 original studies were found. Almost all the studies detected a circadian rhythm for the HRV parameters analysed. HRV increased during the night in particular and a nighttime peak during the second half of the night was identified. Conclusions: HRV follows a circadian rhythm. But until today, there isn′t any possibility to make quantitative statements about changes over the course of the day for planning short-term measurements. More qualitative studies must be carried in order to close this knowledge gaps.     

Peculiarities of Ca2+ regulation of functional activity of myocardium of frog Rana temporaria

To elucidate role of intra- and extracellular Ca2+ in regulation of rhythm and strength of frog heart contractions, there were studied ECC and isometric contraction of myocardium preparations in response to verapamil, adrenaline, and blockers of alpha- and beta-adrenoreceptors. It has been shown that after an intramuscular injection of verapamil (6 mg/kg), bradycardia develops, the heart rate (HR) decreasing by 50-70 %. Further, the cardiac arrest occurred; however, administration to the animals of adrenaline (100 mg/kg) restored the cardiac rhythm for a short while. After an intramuscular injection of adrenaline at doses of 0.1-10 mg/kg, no essential changes were observed in the potential action amplitude and HR; an increase of the administered adrenalin concentration to 100 mg/kg was not accompanied by the cardiac rhythm stimulation, as this takes place in homoiothermal animals and human; on the contrary, an essential HR deceleration was revealed. Phentolamine (5 mg/kg) gradually decelerated HR rhythm by 32-45 %. The potential amplitude changed insignificantly. A subsequent intracardiac injection of adrenaline (100 mg/kg) on the background of block of alpha-adrenoreceptors produced acceleration of the rhythm (by 13-21%) and fall of the electrogram amplitude. These results can indicate that in the frog heart, phentolamine interacts predominanty with alpha-adrenoreceptors. An intracardiac administration of propranolol (1 mg/kg) to frogs promoted inhibition of beta-adrenergic receptors and produced a gradual cardiac rhythm deceleration. In experiments on assessment of verapamil effect on the character of contractions this preparation at a concentration of 150 microM was established to produce a significant dosedependent decrease of the contraction strength. A rise of verapamil concentration in the sample to 200 microM led to a decrease of the amplitude, on average, by 68-70 % and in individual preparations -- by 80-85 %; however, administration into the sample of adrenaline (10 microM) restored the cardiac contraction strength. Adrenaline (1 nM--100 microM) increased markedly the contraction amplitude. Phentolamine (10 microM) did not inhibit transmission of contractile signal to cardiomyocytes; this was manifested in that the contraction amplitude after addition of adrenaline (10 microM) into the sample was approximately the same as in the sample containing no phentolamine. Propranolol (10 microM) eliminated the stimulatory action of adrenaline (10 microM). The results of these experiments indicate that in the frog ventricular cardiomyocytes the main adrenaline acceptors are beta-adrenoreceptors.     

Cardiac activity of freshwater crayfish at wakefulness, rest, and “animal hypnosis”

In laboratory experiments, simultaneous continuous recording of the circadian cycle of behavioral reactions and cardiac activity of freshwater crayfish Astacus astacus and Procambarus clarkii was carried out. A non-invasive fiber-optic method of recording of the heart rate (HR) was used. The obtained data were analyzed by the method of variational pulsometry (VP). It was revealed that certain values of HR and characteristics of VP corresponded to the physiological states of active wakefulness and rest. It was found that during long immobilization of crayfish it is possible to identify the states of operative rest and sleep by the animal behavioral reactions and parameters of cardiac activity. Crayfish were studied in the state of artificially evoked immobilization (“animal hypnosis”). During this state, a high HR level, an increase of indexes of tension and autonomic equilibrium, and changes of other VP characteristics were observed. It is suggested that the different level of cardiac activity in different physiological states of crayfish (active wakefulness, operative rest, sleep, and “animal hypnosis”) is regulated by nervous influences analogous to sympathetic and parasympathetic influences in vertebrates. It was concluded that freshwater crayfish as a representative of the highly organized invertebrates can serve an effective model for studying mechanisms of sleep-like states and “animal hypnosis” in animals.     

Dynamics of fat content during induction and termination of “trophic diapause” in Harmonia sedecimnotata Fabr. females (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae)

Experimental studies have demonstrated that onset, termination, and resumption of oviposition, same as corresponding changes in germarium size, are closely correlated with the dynamics of fat reserves. Even short-term (10 days long) termination of oviposition caused by the absence of aphid preys with the availability of carbohydrate food is accompanied by significant increase in absolute (weight) and relative (the percentage of total dry weight) fat content. This confirms the correctness of considering the studied phenomenon as a “real” reproductive diapause but not as a “short-term interruption of oviposition.” In combination with earlier published data, the results of the study once again suggest that division of insect adaptations to environmental changes into “short-term” and “long-term” adaptations based, correspondingly, on “neural” and “neurohormonal” mechanisms is rather conventional. In reality, a gradient or a spectrum of reactions is observed.     

Peculiarities of Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-regulation of functional activity of myocardium of frog <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rana temporaria</Emphasis>

To elucidate role of intra- and extracellular Ca²⁺ in regulation of rhythm and strength of frog heart contractions, there were studied ECC and isometric contraction of myocardium preparations in response to verapamil, adrenaline, and blockers of α- and β-adrenoreceptors. It has been shown that after an intramuscular injection of verapamil (6 mg/kg), bradycardia develops, the heart rate (HR) decreasing by 50–70%. Further, the cardiac arrest occurred; however, administration to the animals of adrenaline (100 mg/kg) restored the cardiac rhythm for a short while. After an intramuscular injection of adrenaline at doses of 0.1–10 mg/kg, no essential changes were observed in the potential action amplitude and HR; an increase of the administered adrenalin concentration to 100 mg/kg was not accompanied by the cardiac rhythm stimulation, as this takes place in homoiothermal animals and human; on the contrary, an essential HR deceleration was revealed. Phentolamine (5 mg/kg) gradually decelerated HR rhythm by 32–45%. The potential amplitude changed insignificantly. A subsequent intracardiac injection of adrenaline (100 mg/kg) on the background of block of α-adrenoreceptors produced acceleration of the rhythm (by 15–21%) and fall of the electrogram amplitude. These results can indicate that in the frog heart phentolamine interacts predominantly with α 1-adrenoreceptors. An intracardial administration of propranolol (1 mg/kg) to frogs promoted inhibition of β-adrenergic receptors and produced a gradual cardiac rhythm deceleration. In experiments on assessment of verapamil effect on the character of contractions this preparation at a concentration of 150 μM was established to produce a significant dose-dependent decrease of the contraction strength. A rise of verapamil concentration in the sample to 200 μM led to a decrease of the amplitude, on average, by 68–70% and in individual preparations—by 80–85%; however, administration into the sample of adrenaline (10 μM) restored the cardiac contraction strength. Adrenaline (1 nM–100 μM) increased markedly the contraction amplitude. Phentolamine (10 μM) did not inhibit transmission of contractile signal to cardiomyocytes; this was manifested in that the contraction amplitude after addition of adrenaline (10 μM) into the sample was approximately the same as in the sample containing no phentolamine. Propranolol (10 μM) eliminated the stimulatory action of adrenaline (10 μM). The results of these experiments indicate that in the frog ventricular cardiomyocytes the main adrenaline acceptors are β-adrenoreceptors.     

Driving and timing components of the breathing pattern during hypoxia in anaesthetized cats

The effects of acute hypoxic hypoxia elicited by N2 inhalation on the driving and timing components of the breathing pattern were studied in 18 adult anaesthetized cats. Two phases could be distinguished in the ventilatory response to acute hypoxia. During the first phase, mean inspiratory flow (VT/TI) increased exponentially up to 240% of the initial value. During the second phase, VT/TI gradually decreased, reaching the control values in the last preapnoeic breaths during the first exposure and remained higher than normal with earlier respiratory arrest in three repeated N2 inhalations. No significant changes could be observed in the timing component of breathing pattern (TI/TT) in the course of the first hypoxic exposure, and the changes in TI/TT did not exceed 7% in repeated attacks. This suggests that the shortening of both inspiratory and expiratory durations increased the breathing frequency up to 130% of its resting value. Moreover, tachypnoea was preserved until respiratory arrest. Accordingly, it is concluded that the decrease in ventilation with the appearance of apnoea during the second phase of N2 inhalation in anaesthetized cats is not due to a failure of respiratory timing, but to a depression of the driving mechanisms which are responsible for this phenomenon.     

Baroreflex stabilization of the double (pressure-rate) product at 0.05 Hz in conscious rabbits

The product of heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP), the double product (DP), is an indirect index of cardiac oxygen consumption. We used spectral analysis to test the hypothesis that baroreflex adjustments of HR stabilize the DP during spontaneous variations in SBP. SBP and HR were recorded by telemetry in five male conscious rabbits. HR and SBP power spectra each exhibited a low frequency peak at approximately 0.05 Hz that was associated with high (>0.5) spectral coherence and a positive phase relationship between SBP and HR (SBP leading). A prominent peak was absent in the spectra of their product, suggesting that SBP and HR interacted to reduce DP variability in this frequency region. In contrast, a prominent 0.05-Hz peak was present in the power spectrum of calculated surrogates of the DP in which reflex interactions between HR and SBP had been removed. Our results suggest that baroreflex adjustments of HR stabilize the DP during spontaneous low-frequency variations in SBP in conscious rabbits.     

Ease of capture in lines of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) subjected to contrasting selection for fear or sociability

Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) of lines, which have been subjected to contrasting selection for duration of the tonic immobility (TI) reaction or social reinstatement (SR) behaviour over many generations show corresponding differences in underlying fearfulness and sociality. As fearfulness and sociality are particularly influential traits in domesticated species, the finding that such traits respond to artificial selection may have important implications for poultry welfare and performance. However, it is not known if or how such selection has influenced human-animal interactions. The present experiment investigated the influence of fearfulness and SR behaviour on the ease with which birds could be caught and handled. Birds of lines selected for duration of the TI response or SR behaviour were reared in mixed line groups (LTI and STI or HSR and LSR) of 491 and 346 birds, respectively, until 6 weeks of age. When the birds were 2, 4, and 6 weeks of age, they were caught one by one and their individual capture ranks noted. In the group of birds selected for duration of the TI response, birds selected of the line selected for short duration of TI were caught before those selected for long duration of the response. In the group of birds selected for SR motivation, birds of the high line were caught before their low lines counterparts. Coefficients of concordance between capture ranks were significant and capture ranks did not differ significantly across ages. These results imply that selection for low levels of fear or high levels of sociality produces animals that are less disturbed by human interventions than animals selected for the opposite traits. The greater ease of capture of low fear line birds than high fear line birds may be explained by reduced fear of humans. The fact that the birds selected for high levels of SR behaviour are easier to catch than birds selected for low levels of sociality is less readily explicable. One hypothesis is that HSR line chicks tend to be more strongly imprinted on each other and the human caretaker. However, SR behaviour is highly species specific in both lines, existing evidence for line differences in social discrimination is limited and birds of the two lines show similar duration of the TI response. Despite this, whatever their underlying causation, these results demonstrate that genetic selection can be used to reduce negative reactions to human beings and may be of value in the improvement of both animal welfare and productivity.     

Dynamics of heart rate response in sleeping infants exposed to tone stimuli

Heart rate, EEG, and motor responses were recorded following presentation of a series of 6–10 sound stimuli (2.5-s tones of 1000, 4000, and 250 Hz, 70 dB, interstimulus intervals 18–25 s) in neonates aged 9 to 22 weeks during stage 2–3 sleep. The infants (17 of 19) revealed heart rate (HR) changes in response to tone stimuli that consisted in an expanded form of three phases: (1) short-latency (at 1 s after tone presentation) HR deceleration, (2) HR acceleration with a maximum at 3–5 s, and (3) late HR deceleration at 6–9 s of the poststimulus interval. The occurrence rate of the first two phases of cardiac response is relatively constant during a series of stimuli, whereas the likelihood of late HR deceleration is the highest following the first tone presentation and decreases significantly when the stimulus is repeated. Differences in the dynamics and statistical analysis allow a relative independence of all the three response phases to be suggested. The HR acceleration phase is dramatically enhanced in association with the motor response elicited by the sound stimulus. The late HR deceleration phase occurs not only after the first presentation of stimuli, but also when they are repeated if they evoke EEG reaction (vertex potentials) in response to both the beginning and end of the tone sound. Possible mechanisms of the three phases of poststimulus HR changes are: the vagal cardiac reflex associated with the acoustic (adaptive) reflex, activation of sympathetic efferents in combination with the startle reflex, and secondary vagal deceleration of sinus rhythm likely to be associated with the processes of perception (detection) of a “novel” stimulus and to serve as an indirect sign of an orienting reaction.     

Heart rate circadian rhythm as a biological marker of desynchronization in major depression: a methodological and preliminary report

Heart rate (HR) was continuously monitored during successive 24-hr periods in 19 healthy subjects and 26 major depressed patients (DSM III-R). Recordings were performed after a 2-week wash-out period and the morningness or eveningness typology of each subject was determined. The chronobiological parameters and rhythm percentage (RP) were calculated by the single cosinor method from the smoothed HR curves of each subject. In normal subjects, HR follows a circadian rhythm (RP greater than 65%) with the lowest values at night. Morning type subjects have an earlier peak time (13:30) than evening type subjects (17:30). Major depressive patients were split into two groups; in the first one HR circadian rhythm was still present (RP greater than 63%) with a decrease in amplitude (24%) while in the second group, no circadian rhythm of HR could be detected (RP less than 25%, decrease in amplitude greater than 70%). In the group of patients with a persisting HR circadian rhythm, no veritable phase advance was observed. Our results suggest that circadian HR rhythm, which can be easily studied with non-invasive methods, might represent a chronobiological marker of some depressions. Given the lag that exists between the rhythms of morning type and evening type subjects, our study also stresses the importance of taking into account this behavioural trait in chronobiological studies.     

Relationships of Oxygen Consumption, Hemodynamics, and Heart Rate Variability with the Functional Class of Coronary Artery Disease Patients

The functional classes (FCs) established according to the criteria of the New York Heart Association were tested for association with oxygen consumption, the state of central hemodynamics, and heart rate (HR) variability in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Oxygen consumption, central hemodynamics, and HR variability at rest and during exercise were assayed in 146 CAD patients and 30 healthy individuals (the control group). It was established that the peak oxygen consumption (VO_2max), anaerobic threshold, pulmonary ventilation, systolic and minute blood volume at the threshold load (TL), and HR variability in a supine position significantly decrease and the total vascular peripheral resistance at rest and during exercise increases with increasing FC in CAD patients. The closest correlation of FC was revealed with physical working capacity, anaerobic threshold, age, and peak oxygen consumption. Moderate correlations were established with the chronotropic function of the heart at the threshold load, HR variability, the high- and low-frequency components of the cardiac rhythm at TL, pulmonary ventilation, stroke volume at rest and at TL, and the carbon dioxide ventilation equivalent at TL. In healthy individuals, the peak oxygen consumption closely correlated with the HR variability, the very low frequency component at TL, and physical capacity. With an increase in FC in CAD patients, peak oxygen consumption became more tightly associated with the chronotropic function and the hemodynamic components at TL than with the HR variability in a supine position or at TL.     

Exercise breathing pattern during chronic altitude exposure

Breathing pattern in response to maximal exercise was examined in four subjects during a 7-day acclimatisation to a simulated altitude of 4247 m (barometric pressure, PB = 59.5 kPa). Graded exercise tests to exhaustion were performed during normoxia (day 0), and on days 2 and 7 of hypoxia, respectively. Ventilation was significantly augmented in the hypoxic environment, as were both the mean inspiratory flow (VT/TI) and inspiratory duty cycle (TI/TTOT) components of it. VI/TI was increased due to a significant increase in tidal volume (VT) and a corresponding decrease in inspiratory time duration (TI). Throughout a range of exercise ventilation, TI/TTOT was increased due to an apparently greater decrease in expiratory time duration (TE) with respect to TI. In all cases, the relation between VT and TI displayed a typical range 2 behaviour, with evidence of a range 3 occurring at very high ventilatory rates. There was essentially no difference observed in the VT-TI relation during exercise between the normoxic and hypoxic conditions. No significant changes were observed in the breathing pattern in response to exercise within the exposure period (from day 2 to day 7), although there was a discernible tendency to a higher stage 3 plateau by day 7 of altitude exposure.     

Ontogenic changes in cardiac rhythm during acute hypoxia in dogs and rabbits]

Newborn dogs and rabbits exhibit unequal reactivity of cardiac activity to acute hypoxia as compared to adult ones, being lesser in the newborn. In dogs, during postnatal life as well as during adaptation to hypoxia, tachycardic effect of atropine increases indicating the increase in vagal tone. In growing rabbits, cardiac rhythm decreases, the decrease being presumably due to changes in the tone of the sympathetic nervous system, since no significant changes were observed in cardiac activity during atropine administration.     

Heart Rate Orcadian Rhythm as a Biological Marker of Desynchronization in Major Depression: A Methodological and Preliminary Report

Heart rate (HR) was continuously monitored during successive 24-hr periods in 19 healthy subjects and 26 major depressed patients (DSM III-R). Recordings were performed after a 2-week wash-out period and the morningness or eveningness typology of each subject was determined. The chronobiological parameters and rhythm percentage (RP) were calculated by the single cosinor method from the smoothed HR curves of each subject. In normal subjects, HR follows a circadian rhythm (RP > 65%) with the lowest values at night. Morning type subjects have an earlier peak time (13:30) than evening type subjects (17:30). Major depressive patients were split into two groups; in the first one HR circadian rhythm was still present (RP > 63%) with a decrease in amplitude (24%) while in the second group, no circadian rhythm of HR could be detected (RP < 25%, decrease in amplitude > 70%). In the group of patients with a persisting HK circadian rhythm, no veritable phase advance was observed. Our results suggest that circadian HR rhythm, which can be easily studied with non-invasive methods, might represent a chronobiological marker of some depressions. Given the lag that exists between the rhythms of morning type and evening type subjects, our study also stresses the importance of taking into account this behavioural trait in chronobiological studies.     

Heart and ventilatory measures in crayfish during environmental disturbances and social interactions

Most animals assess the environment in which they live and alter their behavior according to various stimuli. When the animal does not make significant behavioral changes, as measured by bodily movements, the animal may be characterized as unresponsive to a given stimulus. This study demonstrates that when behavioral movements of crayfish cannot be observed, physiological measures of heart rate (HR) and ventilatory rate (VR) show dramatic changes in response to defined sensory stimuli. In the majority of cases, upon anticipation of a social interaction with another crayfish both HR and VR will increase. During an agonistic encounter between two crayfish, the level of HR and VR correlate with the intensity of the interaction. Such rapid responses in cardiac and respiratory systems to environmental disturbances and anticipation of a social interaction suggest an autonomic-like regulation associated with fear, flight or fight. Since behavioral observations do not allow an internal status to be readily assessed, we suggest that HR and VR may serve as a useful bioindex in crustaceans to their internal drive or possibly an awareness level to environmental cues.     

Maturation of the homeothermic response of heart rate to altered ambient temperature in developing chick hatchlings (Gallus gallus domesticus)

On the basis of evidence showing that instantaneous heart rate (IHR) of chick hatchlings responds to exposure to altered ambient temperature (Ta; Tazawa H, Moriya K, Tamura A, and Akiyama R. Comp Biochem Physiol A 131A: 797-803, 2002), we elucidate here the developmental timeline for the homeothermic response of HR in newly hatched chicks (days 0-7) maintained at room temperature ( approximately 24-27 degrees C). Hatchlings were exposed to Ta of 25, 35, and 25 degrees C for 1-h periods, respectively, and IHR was measured together with skin temperature (Ts) during this warming and cooling bout. Early 0-day-old (0 day) chicks responded to warming and cooling exposures with various changes in HR baseline. In newly hatched chicks (0-7 h old), HR baseline was elevated during warming (Delta126 beats/min, n = 13) and declined during cooling (-Delta94 beats/min). With progress of development on day 0, the elevation of HR baseline during warming decreased and advanced 0-day chicks tended to decrease HR baseline during warming rather than increase HR. The more developed 1- to 7-day-old chicks exhibited the expected homeothermic decrease in HR during warming. The diurnal variations of HR responses during warming and cooling on the first day of post-egg life indicate that pronounced development of thermoregulatory competence occurs during the day of hatching (day 0). The response of IHR fluctuations to altered Ta was observed in the form of low- and high-frequency oscillations. High-frequency oscillations corresponding to respiratory sinus arrhythmia developed as the hatchlings aged. There was a significant increase in the number of chicks exhibiting both low- and high-frequency oscillations that depended on age and the development of thermoregulatory competence of hatchlings.     

Single-breath DLCO maneuver causes cardiac output to fall during and after cycling

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the single-breath pulmonary diffusing capacity (DLCO) breath-hold maneuver on central hemodynamics. Ten men (mean age 24 yr) were studied at rest, during 40 min of cycling at 40 and 60% of peak O2 uptake, and 10 min into recovery. DLCO was measured in the seated position during a 10-s breath hold at total lung capacity. At rest the breath hold caused a significant fall in stroke volume (SV, -16%) and an increase in heart rate (HR, +20%) with no change in cardiac output (Q). The resting DLCO of 36.5 ml.min-1.mmHg-1 increased by 28 and 48%, respectively, during the low- and moderate-intensity cycling. The breath hold while cycling caused a significant decrease in SV and Q, but HR did not change. Likewise, during recovery SV and Q fell with the breath hold but again HR did not change. A significant fall in systolic (-17%), diastolic (-12.5%), and mean arterial pressure (-15%) occurred during the breath hold at rest and during and after the exercise. The reduction observed in SV and blood pressure most likely reflected a decrease in venous return. The differences observed in the HR response before, compared with during and after exercise, were consistent with a resetting or shift in the operating point of the arterial baroreflex. Because blood flow fell during the exercise and recovery breath-hold maneuver, the "true" DLCO may have been underestimated during and after cycling.     

Redox control of cardiac rhythm

The rhythm of cardiac beats is generated by pacemaker cells differing from other cardiomyocytes by the presence of slow diastolic depolarization. Consistently activated transmembrane ionic currents provide cyclic excitation of pacemakers, forming the original “membrane clocks”. A new concept has been forwarded in the last decade according to which periodic fluctuations in myoplasmic Ca²⁺ level (“calcium clocks”) not only influence a course of “membrane clocks”, but they also can serve as independent generators of the rhythm. Transport of Ca²⁺ in cells is under constant influence of active forms of oxygen and nitrogen. Both superoxide and NO in moderate doses facilitate Ca²⁺ output from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, accelerating the course of “calcium clocks”, but in higher doses they have opposite effect that may be neutralized mainly by reduced glutathione. The control of cardiac rhythm by active forms of oxygen and nitrogen represents a feedback mechanism by which mitochondria and NO-synthases support Ca²⁺ homeostasis in cells that can be temporarily disturbed under mechanical loads or hypoxia.     

Cardiovascular control during voluntary static exercise in humans with tetraplegia.

The purpose of the present study was 1) to investigate whether an increase in heart rate (HR) at the onset of voluntary static arm exercise in tetraplegic subjects was similar to that of normal subjects and 2) to identify how the cardiovascular adaptation during static exercise was disturbed by sympathetic decentralization. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and HR were noninvasively recorded during static arm exercise at 35% of maximal voluntary contraction in six tetraplegic subjects who had complete cervical spinal cord injury (C(6)-C(7)). Stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were estimated by using a Modelflow method simulating aortic input impedance from arterial blood pressure waveform. In tetraplegic subjects, the increase in HR at the onset of static exercise was blunted compared with age-matched control subjects, whereas the peak increase in HR at the end of exercise was similar between the two groups. CO increased during exercise with no or slight decrease in SV. MAP increased approximately one-third above the control pressor response but TPR did not rise at all throughout static exercise, indicating that the slight pressor response is determined by the increase in CO. We conclude that the cardiovascular adaptation during voluntary static arm exercise in tetraplegic subjects is mainly accomplished by increasing cardiac pump output according to the tachycardia, which is controlled by cardiac vagal outflow, and that sympathetic decentralization causes both absent peripheral vasoconstriction and a decreased capacity to increase HR, especially at the onset of exercise.