Abstract
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a role in the regulation of the cardiovascular system through sympathetic and parasympathetic modulations, which act in an associated way in the regulation of homeostasis. This regulation exercised by the ANS is determined by numerous factors including breathing, stress, temperature, blood pressure and physical activity. Cardiac nerve regulation is influenced by obesity, but the autonomic response present in this disorder has not yet been elucidated. It is known that a 10% increase in body fat is able to lead to a decrease in parasympathetic action and an increase in heart rate. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) allows the evaluation of autonomic heart modulation through the ventricular depolarization intervals to the electrocardiogram (ECG), and provides information on the relationship and contribution of the ANS to the neural influence of heart rate control. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the HRV by means of an electrocardiographic examination in obese dogs with Body Condition Score (BCS) 8/9 and 9/9, comparing with HRV of the same animals, after therapy with therapeutic ration in the period of 6 months, as well as the comparison with control group with lean animals. With the results obtained in the present study, it can be inferred that probably the imbalance in the autonomic activity due to obesity in dogs is not the same as in humans and that a greater understanding of this regulation in these animals is necessary, especially considering their vagotonia. The diet program based on low-calorie ration reached approximately 10% and 20% of weight reduction after two and six months, respectively. Obesity raises HRV by increasing parasympathetic activity in the autonomic regulation of the heart in dogs.
Highlights
The cardiac nerve regulation is influenced by obesity, but the autonomic response present in this disorder has not yet been elucidated
At the same time as studies indicate the predominance of sympathetic tone in obesity, others have evidenced the decrease of this tone in humans (Talib et al, 2005; Carareto et al, 2007)
20 Beagle dogs were selected from the bioterium of the University, where they lived under the same management conditions, in collective pens, with a maximum of six animals per enclosure, and were fed the same commercial ration in the quantities recommended by the manufacturer, once per day
Summary
The cardiac nerve regulation is influenced by obesity, but the autonomic response present in this disorder has not yet been elucidated. In dogs, there are still few studies on the cardiovascular effects of obesity (Malik et al, 1996; Kleiger et al, 2005). The degree of obesity and the time in which the individual is in this condition are crucial for the appearance of cardiovascular changes in humans and probably in dogs (Atkins, 1999; Kleiger et al, 2005). A decrease in HRV is described, reflecting on an autonomic imbalance, with reduced parasympathetic modeling, which may or may not present an elevation of sympathetic tone (Minors & O’Grady, 1997; Karason et al, 1999). It was found that after weight loss, several cardiac alterations were attenuated or reversed, especially when the individual performed physical activities (Karason et al, 1999; Pelosi et al, 2013)
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