No abstract available.
Autonomic Agents* ; Autonomic Nervous System*

BACKGROUND: An acceleration or deceleration of the heart rate (HR), which reflects autonomic effects, is observed before the onset of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). The purpose of this study was to assess the discrepancy in the autonomic interactions before the onset of PAF for different patterns of change in the HR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 105 Holter tapes with the PAF recorded, 55 episodes (42 patients, 34 men, 58+/-12 years) of PAF (>5 min), preceded by a sinus rhythm for more than 1 hour, were selected and submitted to time-domain and frequency-domain HR variability analyses. Fifty-five episodes were divided into 2 groups: group A PAF (n=30) with acceleration of the HR during the last 2 minutes before the PAF and group B (n=25) with deceleration of the HR. RESULTS: A significant linear decrease in the mean R-R interval was observed in group A (924+/-30 to 835+/-28 ms, P=0.001) and an increase from 831+/-32 to 866+/-31 ms in group B PAF episodes (P=0.046). In the frequency-domain analyses, the LF/HF ratio exhibited a progressive linear increase before the PAF in group A (P=0.005). The HF normalized units (HFnu) and natural logarithm-transformed HF (lnHF) values decreased from 30.8+/-4.0 to 16.1+/-1.8 (P=0.003) and 4.49+/-0.25 to 4.07+/-0.22 (P=0.001), respectively. Contrary to the results in group A, a significant increase in the HF components (HFnu and lnHF) (from 22.6+/-3.2 to 30.2+/-4.0, P=0.005, and 4.27+/-0.27 to 4.75 0.33, P=0.001, respectively) and a resultant decrease in the LF/HF ratio were observed in group B PAF episodes. No significant changes were observed in the LF components in either PAF group. CONCLUSION: Autonomic stimuli leading to an acceleration or deceleration of the HR before the onset of AF are due to parasympathetic modulation. Parasympathetic modulation plays a key role in the initiation of PAF
Acceleration ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Autonomic Agents ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Deceleration ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male

The Effects of Some Autonomic Drugs on the Elevated Intraocular Tension of the Rabbit were Investigated. 1) Intravenous or local administration of Acetylcholine isoproterenol, a small dose of epinephrine and local large dose of epinephrine shortened the recovery time of the elevated. intraocular tension of normal level. 2) Intravenous or local administration of norepinephrine and intravenous large dose of epinephrine lengthened the recovery time. 3) A small dose of intravenous dimethylphenylpiperazinium shortened the recovery time, while large dose of the former lengthened the latter. 4) Intravenous hexamethonium, Bretylium, regitine, and small dose of atropine lengthened it From the above results, it is suggested that there are cholinergic, adrenergic alpha and beta receptor in the regulatory organs of the intraocular tension and autonomic nervous system plays an important role in regulating the intraocular tension.
Acetylcholine ; Atropine ; Autonomic Agents* ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Dimethylphenylpiperazinium Iodide ; Epinephrine ; Hexamethonium ; Isoproterenol ; Norepinephrine ; Phentolamine

Local release of neurotransmitters from autonomic nerve fibers in the nasal mucosa is known to play an important role for the protection of the lower airways. In addition to classical neurotransmitters, a diverse collection of neuropeptides are found in the sensory, parasympathetic, and sympathetic nerve fibers and may act as co-transmitters or modulators of effects induced by classical neurotransmitters. In the nasal mucosa, these neuropeptides are known to regulate the blood flow and content, secretory activity, and other epithelial functions and to be involved in the regulation of immunological reactions. There are increasing evidences that neuropeptides may play an important role in the pathophysiologic events in both specific and nonspecific hyperreactivity. Further study on the neuropeptides is needed to clarify the pathophysiologic mechanisms of nasal mucosal hyperreactivity.
Autonomic Pathways ; Nasal Mucosa* ; Nerve Fibers ; Neuropeptides ; Neurotransmitter Agents

OBJECTIVES: There has been a continued debate regarding the role of eye movements in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing(EMDR). This study examined the possible autonomic effect of horizontal eye movements after being exposed to fearful stimuli. METHODS: Fifty two healthy adult women were randomly allocated to eye movement or eye fixed groups after watching a five minute fear-inducing film clip. ECG was recorded during the resting state, after watching the clip, and the treatment. A spectral power analysis of the heart rate variability was performed. As the variables violated the rule of normal distribution and the number in each group is small the non-parametric test was used. RESULTS: Overall, we did not find the differences between the groups in both time and frequency domains. Some minor differences found were not consistent with results from previous studies. CONCLUSIONS: Effect of eye movement on autonomic nervous system during fear desensitization was not supported in this experiment. Further study with other psychophysiological measures is needed to understand the role of eye movements in treatment of traumatic memory.
Adult ; Autonomic Agents ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Electrocardiography ; Eye ; Eye Movements ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Normal Distribution

Effects of several autonomic drugs on the responses of the isolated rabbit detrusor muscle strips to electrical stimulation were investigated. Electric stimulation of the detrusor muscle strips elicited two different responses; (a) contraction followed by relaxation in 14 cases out of 22 experiments, and (b) contraction only in 8 cases. The contraction responses to electrical stimulation were significantly reduced in the presence of either atropine or regitine, respectively The relaxation response to electrical stimulation was abolished in the presence of propranolol. Addition of norepinephrine evoked one of following three responses: (a) relaxation in 10 cases out of 19 experiments, (b) contraction in 6 cases, and (c) contraction followed by relaxation in 4 cases. The relaxation response to norepinephrine was reversed. in the presence of propranolol, to a contraction response which was then abolished after administration of regitine. The contraction response to norepinephrine was reversed, in the presence of regitine, to a relaxation response which was then abolished after administration of propranolol. Acetylcholine elicited contraction of the isolated detrusor muscle strip, and this was abolished in the presence of atropine These results suggest that the rabbit detrusor muscle is innervated by both cholinergic and adrenergic fibers and that the detrusor muscle contains cholinergic receptors as well as adrenergic a-and b-ones. Contrary to the popular opinion that the detrusor muscle predominantly contains adrenergic b-receptors, it seems likely that the adrenergic receptors differ in predominancy of either a or b which elicits contraction or relaxation, respectively, according to different areas of the muscle.
Acetylcholine ; Adrenergic Fibers ; Atropine ; Autonomic Agents* ; Electric Stimulation* ; Norepinephrine ; Phentolamine ; Propranolol ; Receptors, Adrenergic ; Receptors, Cholinergic ; Relaxation

Recent reports suggest that the responses of the detrusor muscle to the hypogastric nerve stimulation and some autonomic drugs may not be identical among various species. In this study, the responses of the isolated detrusor muscle strips of the Amyda Japonica and the rabbit to catecholamines were compared, and the type of the adrenergic-receptors was investigated. The results obtained were as follows : 1. Catecholamines (norepinephrine and epinephrine) evoked only contraction in the isolated detrusor muscle of the Amyda Japonica and relaxation in the preparation of the rabbit. 2. The contraction-response in the Amyda Japonica was blocked in the presence of regitine, an adrenergic alpha-receptor blocking agent. 3. The relaxation-response in the rabbit was abolished by pre-treatment with propranolol, an adrenergic beta-receptor blocking agent. 4. Acetylcholine elicited contraction in both of the isolated detrusor muscle strips of the Amyda japonica and the rabbit, and the response was completely blocked in the presence of atropine. 5. The results described above suggest that catecholamines exert excitatory effect on the detrusor muscle of the Amyda japonica as it contains adrenergic alpha-receptors and inhibitory effect on the same preparation of the rabbit as it contains the adrenergic beta-receptors. Key Word : amyda japonica,alpha receptor, beta receptor.
Acetylcholine ; Atropine ; Autonomic Agents* ; Catecholamines ; Phentolamine ; Propranolol ; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta ; Relaxation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: According to the neurophysiologic model of tinnitus, emotion and autonomic nervous systems are closely related to generation of tinnitus. We performed this study to evaluate the treatment response of modified tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) with medication in the patients with sensorineural tinnitus. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Forty-three tinnitus patients who were diagnosed as sensorineural tinnitus through audiologic evaluation and have normal hearing in speech frequency were included in this study. Tinnitus and psychological status were measured by tinnitus questionnaire, Korean version of Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument (BEPSI) scale, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Patients treated with anxiolytics and microcirculation enhancer were Group 1 and those treated with modified TRT and medications were Group 2. Short-term therapeutic response was analyzed and compared between two groups. RESULTS: Loudness, awareness, annoyance and effect on life of tinnitus and tinnitus handicap score were significantly decreased in Group 2. Relief of tinnitus in more than 2 of 4 subjective parameters was achieved in 4 patients (30.7%) in Group 1 and 15 patients (75%) in Group 2. Stress score was also decreased significantly after treatment in Group 2. CONCLUSION: Tinnitus patients in Group 2 treated with medication and modified TRT showed the higher compliance and the response rate of treatment than the patients in Group 1 treated with medication alone. Modified TRT, in addition to medical therapy, should be considered to increase the therapeutic response in patients with sensorineural tinnitus.
Anti-Anxiety Agents ; Anxiety ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Compliance ; Depression ; Hearing ; Humans ; Microcirculation ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tinnitus

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been assumed that salivary glands receive secretory fibers both from parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves. In fact, however, the existence of sympathetic secretory fibers in the cervical sympathetic nerve has not been established yet, because the salivary response to the cervical sympathetic stimulation is variable and short-lasting, and it tends to cease in spite of continued stimulation. This study investigated whether or not the cervical sympathetic nerve contains specific secretory fibers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Salivary and blood flow responses to different frequency stimulation of the cervical sympathetic nerve, and often some autonomic drugs administration were observed from the submandibular gland in chloralose-anesthetized cats. RESULTS: 1) Low frequency stimulation (1-2 Hz) of the sympathetic nerve did not evoke salivary outflow and any change of blood flow, whereas high frequency stimulation of the nerve evoked salivary outflow and decrease of blood flow, in which salivary response tended to cease in spite of continued stimulation. 2) The salivary and blood flow responses to high frequency stimulation (20 Hz) of the nerve were not affected by the intravenous administration of propranolol, but were abolished by regitine. 3) Noradrenalin evoked salivary outflow and decreased blood flow which were not affected by the administration of propranolol but were abolished by regitine. 4) Isoproterenol increased blood flow but did not evoke salivary outflow, and the blood flow response was abolished by propranolol. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the cervical sympathetic nerve does not contain specific secretory fibers and salivary outflow response to high frequency stimulation of the nerve may be due to either excitation of motor fibers innervating contractile elements of the excretory duct or chemical transmitters released from the vasomotor fibers.
Administration, Intravenous ; Animals ; Autonomic Agents ; Cats* ; Isoproterenol ; Phentolamine ; Propranolol ; Salivary Glands ; Submandibular Gland*

Heart rate variability (HRV) is governed by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and is routinely used to estimate the state of body and mind. At the same time, recorded HRV features can vary substantially between people. A model for HRV that (1) correctly simulates observed HRV, (2) reliably functions for multiple scenarios, and (3) can be personalised using a manageable set of parameters, would be a significant step forward toward understanding individual responses to external influences, such as physical and physiological stress. Current HRV models attempt to reproduce HRV characteristics by mimicking the statistical properties of measured HRV signals. The model presented here for the simulation of HRV follows a radically different approach, as it is based on an approximation of the physiology behind the triggering of a heart beat and the biophysics mechanisms of how the triggering process—and thereby the HRV—is governed by the ANS. The model takes into account the metabolisation rates of neurotransmitters and the change in membrane potential depending on transmitter and ion concentrations. It produces an HRV time series that not only exhibits the features observed in real data, but also explains a reduction of low frequency band-power for physically or psychologically high intensity scenarios. Furthermore, the proposed model enables the personalisation of input parameters to the physiology of different people, a unique feature not present in existing methods. All these aspects are crucial for the understanding and application of future wearable health.
Autonomic Nervous System ; Biophysics ; Heart Rate ; Heart ; Membrane Potentials ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Physiology ; Stress, Physiological ; Vital Signs