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Published in:

01-03-2011

Methods of assessing vagus nerve activity and reflexes

Authors: Mark W. Chapleau, Rasna Sabharwal

Published in: Heart Failure Reviews | Issue 2/2011

Abstract

The methods used to assess cardiac parasympathetic (cardiovagal) activity and its effects on the heart in both humans and animal models are reviewed. Heart rate (HR)-based methods include measurements of the HR response to blockade of muscarinic cholinergic receptors (parasympathetic tone), beat-to-beat HR variability (HRV) (parasympathetic modulation), rate of post-exercise HR recovery (parasympathetic reactivation), and reflex-mediated changes in HR evoked by activation or inhibition of sensory (afferent) nerves. Sources of excitatory afferent input that increase cardiovagal activity and decrease HR include baroreceptors, chemoreceptors, trigeminal receptors, and subsets of cardiopulmonary receptors with vagal afferents. Sources of inhibitory afferent input include pulmonary stretch receptors with vagal afferents and subsets of visceral and somatic receptors with spinal afferents. The different methods used to assess cardiovagal control of the heart engage different mechanisms, and therefore provide unique and complementary insights into underlying physiology and pathophysiology. In addition, techniques for direct recording of cardiovagal nerve activity in animals; the use of decerebrate and in vitro preparations that avoid confounding effects of anesthesia; cardiovagal control of cardiac conduction, contractility, and refractoriness; and noncholinergic mechanisms are described. Advantages and limitations of the various methods are addressed, and future directions are proposed.

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Title: Methods of assessing vagus nerve activity and reflexes
Authors: Mark W. Chapleau
Rasna Sabharwal
Publication date: 01-03-2011
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Heart Failure Reviews / Issue 2/2011
Print ISSN: 1382-4147
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7322
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10741-010-9174-6

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Methods of assessing vagus nerve activity and reflexes

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