Autonomic nervous activity and stress hormones induced by hyperbaric saturation diving

This study describes the changes in autonomic nervous activity and stress hormones during a hyperbaric saturation dive up to 4.1 MPa in six subjects. Their autonomic nervous activity was assessed by a power spectrum analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). The levels of plasma epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE), and those of salivary chromogranin A and cortisol, were compared with the pre-dive control levels. Restrained activity of the cardiac vagal nerve was recognized in the early post-dive period by a decrease in high frequency power and by the standard deviation of the HRV. By contrast, enhanced activity of sympathetic nerve was recognized in the early post-dive period by an elevated plasma E, and also in the late 3.1 MPa, 4.1 MPa, and post-dive periods by elevated plasma NE. The levels of plasma E and NE were the most sensitive indicators of sympathetic nervous activity. A joint utilization of HRV parameters with stress hormones may be an effective means of estimating the adaptive responses between hyperbaric and normobaric environments.