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Results for “Parasympathetic Nervous System”

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At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

The parasympathetic nervous system: its role during torpor in the fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata).

This study investigated the effect of parasympathetic inhibition on the cardio-ventilatory interaction during torpor in the fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata). Studies on the influence of the autonomic nervous system on cardiac function during torpor have focused on deep hibernation in eutherians. S. crassicaudata was used as a representative of the Metatheria that exhibits shallow, daily torpor as a comparison for the patterns of cardiac function found in other mammalian heterotherms. During torpor, parasympathetic inhibition removed the cardio-ventilatory interaction, eliminated heart rate variability and increased the overall heart rate; these are responses that have been shown to be typical of eutherian hibernators under the same conditions. Similarly, there was evidence to suggest that as the bout of torpor progressed, the variation in instantaneous heart rate decreased as a result of the progressive removal of parasympathetic tone. It has been suggested that the ability to enter a "steady state" during torpor, which is characterised by a regular heart rate, is limited to deep hibernators. On the basis of this, and the results of previous physiological studies, it was proposed that there is little evidence to suggest that there is any physiological difference between shallow, daily torpor and deep hibernation.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Laparoscopic surgery and the parasympathetic nervous system.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery preserves the immune system and has anti-inflammatory properties. CO2 pneumoperitoneum attenuates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cytokine production and increases survival. We tested the hypothesis that CO2 pneumoperitoneum mediates its immunomodulatory properties via stimulation of the cholinergic pathway. METHODS: In the first experiment, rats (n = 68) received atropine 1 mg/kg or saline injection 10 min prior to LPS injection and were randomization into four 30-min treatment subgroups: LPS only control, anesthesia control, CO2 pneumoperitoneum, and helium pneumoperitoneum. In a second experiment, rats (n = 40) received atropine 2 mg/kg or saline 10 min prior to randomization into the same four subgroups described previously. In a third experiment, rats (n = 96) received atropine 2 mg/kg or saline 10 min prior to randomization into eight 30-min treatment subgroups followed by LPS injection: LPS only control; anesthesia control; and CO2 or helium pneumoperitoneum at 4, 8, and 12 mmHg. In a fourth experiment, rats (n = 58) were subjected to bilateral subdiaphragmatic truncal vagotomy or sham operation. Two weeks postoperatively, animals were randomized into four 30-min treatment subgroups followed by LPS injection: LPS only control, anesthesia control, CO2 pneumoperitoneum, and helium pneumoperitoneum. Blood samples were collected from all animals 1.5 h after LPS injection, and cytokine levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels were consistently suppressed among the saline-CO2 pneumoperitoneum groups compared to saline-LPS only control groups (p < 0.05 for all four experiments). All chemically vagotomized animals had significantly reduced TNF-alpha levels compared to their saline-treated counterparts (p < 0.05 for all), except among the CO2 pneumoperitoneum-treated animals. Increasing insufflation pressure with helium eliminated differences (p < 0.05) in TNF-alpha production between saline- and atropine-treated groups but had no effect among CO2 pneumoperitoneum-treated animals. Finally, vagotomy (whether chemical or surgical) independently decreased LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha production in all four experiments. CONCLUSION: CO2 pneumoperitoneum modulates the immune system independent of the vagus nerve and the cholinergic pathway.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

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

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 microM), 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.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed2006

Subtle involvement of the parasympathetic nervous system in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

This study comprises assessment of autonomic function in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients, focusing on meal-related changes. In 18 IBS patients (4 males, mean age 45+/-3.0 [SEM] years) and 19 healthy volunteers (6 males, mean age 41+/-3.5 years) blood pressure, heart rate, heart rate variability and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) were assessed before, during and after consumption of a standardized meal. In pre- and postprandial phase Valsalva maneuver, cold pressor test (CPT) and deep breathing test were carried out and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores for nausea, bloating and pain were obtained. In the IBS group, the meal induced significantly higher VAS scores for pain (P=0.002) and bloating (P=0.02). During food intake, the increase in blood pressure, heart rate and MSNA was equal in patients and controls, but the increase of LF/HF ratio of heart rate variability was significantly higher in the IBS group (median [quartiles] 2.29 [1.14-3.00] versus 0.77 [0.25-1.81]; P=0.03). IBS patients scored lower on pre- and postprandial RRmax/RRmin ratio during deep breathing (DB ratio, P=0.03). The increase in MSNA (burst frequency) in response to CPT tended to be higher in the IBS patients (P=0.07). We conclude that reactivity to food intake, measured as muscle sympathetic nerve activity, is normal in IBS patients. The lower DB ratio and higher LF/HF ratio during food intake in IBS patients is an indication of a reduced parasympathetic reactivity. These results suggest that reduced baseline activity as well as responsiveness of the parasympathetic system could play a role in the pathogenesis of IBS.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Characteristics of thermograms of the skin of the anterior surface of the trunk in persons with various tonus of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system].

Vegetative regulation is shown to affect the heat pattern of the trunk skin. Two types of thermograms are found in men: "monotonous" and "spotted", the first thermogram being characterized by prevalence of the parasympathetic and the second one-by sympathetic tonus. In women "spotted" thermograms and sympathicotonic direction of the vegetative regulation are registered.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1982

Role of the parasympathetic nervous system in alcohol-induced bradycardia in conscious cats.

The influence of intracardial injection of ethanol into the right atrium was studied in 10 unanaesthetized unrestrained cats. The initial effect of the injection was bradycardia with nonsignificant decreases in mean carotid artery pressure (APm) or increases in mean right atrial pressure (RAPm). The same was evident in HR and APm with animals pretreated with a beta-blocking agent. Bradycardia could not be introduced in atropinized cats or ones treated with atropine and beta-blocking agent. We conclude that bradycardia is elicited mainly by the influence of ethanol stimulating the vagal centres of the central nervous system (CNS), but the direct influence of ethanol to the heart cannot be excluded.

Animals↗