ISSN:
1432-0770
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Computer Science
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract Spectral analysis was performed on the heart period fluctuation in vagotomized, paralyzed, and unanesthetized decerebrate cats. The heart period was measured as the time interval between successive R waves of the electrocardiograms. When end-tidal P CO 2 was set at the same level as that before immobilization, the power spectral density plot of the heart period fluctuation showed several distinct peaks: one peak corresponded to the frequency of the artificial ventilator and the others to its harmonics. In addition, the spectral density plot had another peak centered at the intrinsic respiratory frequency evaluated by recording efferent phrenic neural discharges. The amplitude of these spectral peaks tended to become greater when the end-tidal P CO 2was increased by adding CO2 to the input gas. Our results, therefore, provide evidence that the heart period is modulated not only by the artificial ventilation rhythm but also by the centrally generated respiratory rhythm, and suggested that the strength of such central interactions between cardiac and respiratory rhythms varies depending on the end-tidal P CO 2 level.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00203448
Permalink
