Abstract
IntroductionAcute emotional stress triggers autonomic responses that affect sympathovagal balance. However, the temporal pattern of changes in each autonomic arm during stress and recovery remains unclear. Therefore, we analyzed separately sympathetic and vagal activity, elicited by acute unpredictable stress in a rat model.MethodsContinuous electrocardiographic recording was performed during (32 minutes) and after (two hours) successive use of restraint and air-jet stress in 10 rats, whereas five rats served as controls. Sympathetic and vagal indices were calculated non-invasively after heart rate variability analysis. Voluntary motion was quantified during recovery, as an index of continuing anxiety.ResultsThe sympathetic nervous system index increased during stress and remained elevated during the initial stage of recovery. The parasympathetic nervous system index decreased immediately after the onset of stress and remained low throughout the observational period. During recovery, voluntary activity was more pronounced in the stress group than in the controls.ConclusionSuccessive restraint and air-jet stress in rats increased sympathetic activity and decreased vagal activity. These changes displayed only partial recovery post-stress and were accompanied by enhanced voluntary motion. Our findings may be important in the evaluation of the cardiac electrophysiologic implications of autonomic changes elicited by acute emotional stress.
Highlights
Acute emotional stress triggers autonomic responses that affect sympathovagal balance
The sympathetic nervous system index increased during stress and remained elevated during the initial stage of recovery
The sympathetic nervous system index (SNSi) during stress and recovery is shown in Figure 3; SNSi remained stable in controls over time (F = 1.3, p = 0.2), but a significant variance was present in the stress group (F = 3.3, p = 0.005); of note, a wide range of responses was observed within this group
Summary
Acute emotional stress triggers autonomic responses that affect sympathovagal balance. The temporal pattern of changes in each autonomic arm during stress and recovery remains unclear. We analyzed separately sympathetic and vagal activity, elicited by acute unpredictable stress in a rat model
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have