Parasympathetic influence on heart rate in euthermic and hibernating ground squirrels

The relative role of the parasympathetic nervous system during deep hibernation is enigmatic. Conflicting hypotheses exist, and both sides draw support from investigations of vagal influence on the heart. Recent studies have shown cardiac chronotropic and inotropic effects of parasympathetic stimulation and inhibition in isolated hearts and anesthetized animals at hibernating body temperatures. No studies, however, have demonstrated such occurrences in undisturbed deeply hibernating animals. The present study documents respiratory-related alterations in heart rate during euthermia and hibernation at ambient temperatures of 15, 10 and 5 degrees C mediated by parasympathetic influence. During quiet wakefulness, euthermic squirrels breathed continuously and exhibited a 29% acceleration in heart rate during inspiration. During deep undisturbed hibernation, at 15, 10 and 5 degrees C ambient temperature, animals exhibited an episodic breathing pattern and body temperatures were slightly above ambient temperature. At each temperature, heart rate during the respiratory episode was greater than that during the apnea. The magnitude of this ventilatory tachycardia decreased with ambient temperature, being 108% at 15 degrees C, 32% at 10 degrees C and 11.5% at 5 degrees C. Animals exposed to 3% CO2 at 5 degrees C, which significantly increased ventilation, still exhibited an 11.7% increase in heart rate during breathing. Thus, the magnitude of the ventilation tachycardia was independent of the level of ventilation, at least over the range studied. Inhibition of vagus nerve conduction at 5 degrees C was achieved using localized nerve block. This led to an increase in apneic heart rate and abolished the ventilatory tachycardia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)