Baroreflex sensitivity and heart rate variability in conscious rats with myocardial infarction

The baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and the heart rate variability (HRV) were studied in conscious rats after myocardial infarction (MI; induced by coronary artery ligation) and after sham operation (SH). BRS was determined by linear regression of R-R interval vs. arterial pressure changes induced by nitroprusside or methoxamine (intravenous bolus). HRV was calculated from 3-min electrocardiogram recordings. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and plasma atrial natriuretic peptide were increased after MI; plasma norepinephrine and basal heart rate (HR) remained unchanged. At 3 and 28 days after MI, BRS was reduced as indicated by decreased reflex bradycardia (RB) (MI, 0.66 +/- 0.13 and 0.78 +/- 0.07 ms/mmHg; SH, 1.27 +/- 0.16 and 1.48 +/- 0.14 ms/mmHg, respectively; P < 0.05 MI vs. SH). At 56 days after MI, BRS was normalized. RB was unaffected by atropine 3 and 28 days after MI but reduced in all other groups. The increase of basal HR by atropine 3 and 28 days after MI was less than in all other groups. HRV (SD of mean N-N interval, coefficient of variance, low- and high-frequency power; studied at 28 and 56 days) was similar in all groups. It is concluded that BRS is transiently depressed in rats with left ventricular dysfunction after MI probably due to a reduced reflex vagal activity. Even though basal HR and HRV are unchanged after MI, a temporary attenuation of tonic vagal activity is unmasked after autonomic blockade.