Effects of Nω-Monomethyl-L-Arginine on Short-Term RR Interval and Systolic Blood Pressure Oscillations

Abstract

The role of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO) in short-term regulation of RR interval and arterial blood pressure (BP) in conscious rats was studied with N omega-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA). RR interval and systolic BP (SBP) variability was investigated by spectral analysis procedures. L-NMMA infused intravenously (i.v.) at 1.2 mg/kg/min elicited a clear increase in blood pressure (BP), RR interval (RRI), and respiratory rate. The main spectral modifications observed during L-NMMA infusion were (a) an increase in power of lower frequency (LF, 0.02-0.20 Hz) systolic BP (SBP) oscillations, (b) a decrease in the power of middle frequency (MF, 0.20-0.60 Hz), SBP oscillations, (c) an increase in the power of respiratory (high-frequency, HF) RR oscillations, and (d) an increase in the SBP-RR correlation in the LF band. These results suggest that L-NMMA infusion induced a rearrangement in the lower frequency oscillations of SBP, in which a decrease in sympathetic activity appears to be involved. The increase in HF oscillations of the RR interval appears to be a consequence of the increase in vagal activity in response to the increase in SBP induced by L-NMMA infusion. The suggested autonomic nervous system alterations could account for the increase in the SBP-RRI correlation in the LF band after L-NMMA administration.