Altered heart rate baroreflex during pregnancy: Role of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

Virginia L. Brooks, Colleen M. Kane, Donna M. Van Winkle

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

Two studies were performed to determine whether the attenuation of baroreflex control of heart rate during late pregnancy in conscious rabbits is due to changes in parasympathetic (Para) or sympathetic (Sym) control of the heart. In the first, baroreflex relationships between arterial pressure and heart rate were generated before and after treatment with propranolol (Pro) to block Sym or with methscopolamine (Meth) to block Para. Each rabbit was studied in both the pregnant and nonpregnant state. Pregnancy decreased maximum baroreflex gain from 14.9 ± 4.0 to 4.8 ± 0.9 beats · min-1 · mmHg-1 (P < 0.01) and decreased heart rate range from 177 ± 6 to 143 ± 10 beats/min (P < 0.01), primarily by increasing minimum heart rate (114 ± 6 to 134 ± 8 beats/min; P < 0.01). The difference between pregnant and nonpregnant rabbits in baroreflex gain was not altered by Meth but was abolished by Pro, suggesting that it is due to decreased Sym control of the heart. The elevated minimum heart rate of pregnancy persisted after Pro, but was abolished by Meth, suggesting that it is mediated by decreased Para control of the heart. In the second study, isolated buffer-perfused hearts from pregnant and nonpregnant rabbits were treated with increasing doses of isoproterenol (0.3-300 mM) or acetylcholine (0.3-10,000 μM), and the heart rate responses were determined. Hearts from pregnant rabbits were more sensitive to isoproterenol (P < 0.05), but less responsive to acetylcholine (P < 0.05). In conclusion, pregnancy-induced decreases in cardiac reflex gain and range appear to be mediated by alterations in Sym and Para, respectively. The change in Sym occurs proximal to the heart, whereas the decreased contribution of Para may be due, at least in part, to decreased sensitivity of the heart to acetylcholine.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)R960-R966
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology
Volume273
Issue number3 42-3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997

Keywords

  • Acetylcholine
  • Isoproterenol
  • Langendorff
  • Methscopolamine
  • Propranolol
  • Rabbits

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Physiology (medical)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Altered heart rate baroreflex during pregnancy: Role of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this