Mathematical model of cellular basis for the respiratory sinus arrhythmia

Franklin Dexter; Yoram Rudy; Matthew N Levy; Eugene N Bruce

doi:10.1016/S0022-5193(05)80329-7

Back

Mathematical model of cellular basis for the respiratory sinus arrhythmia

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Mathematical model of cellular basis for the respiratory sinus arrhythmia

Franklin Dexter, Yoram Rudy, Matthew N Levy and Eugene N Bruce

Journal of theoretical biology, Vol.150(2), pp.157-173

05/21/1991

DOI: 10.1016/S0022-5193(05)80329-7

PMID: 1890853

View Online

Abstract

The respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is a vagally mediated oscillation in cardiac cycle length at the frequency of breathing. We developed a mathematical model that predicted the temporal and frequency dependence of the RSA. We used the mathematical model to examine the underlying cellular basis for the RSA at the level of the sinus node. We alternated efferent vagal activity between a low and a high frequency at the frequency of breathing. This oscillation caused the rate of acetylcholine (ACh) release to oscillate between a low and a high rate at the frequency of breathing. ACh degradation followed linear pharmacokinetics for physiological concentrations of ACh. Therefore, the concentration of ACh in neuroeffector junctions of the sinus node oscillated at the frequency of breathing. Membrane potential responded rapidly to changes in the concentration of ACh relative to the rate of ACh degradation. Thus, the time course of the RSA depended on the rate of ACh degradation. Membrane potential oscillated at several integer multiples of frequency of breathing and at various higher frequencies, which were integer multiples of the frequency of breathing and the frequencies of firing of the sinus node. However, computing cardiac cycle length from membrane potential eliminated the higher frequencies. Therefore, cardiac cycle length oscillated at several integer multiples of the frequency of breathing, but not at these higher frequencies.

Mathematics

Acetylcholine - biosynthesis

Vagus Nerve - physiology

Animals

Membrane Potentials

Models, Biological

Sinoatrial Node - physiology

Heart - physiology

Heart Rate - physiology

Acetylcholine - metabolism

Respiration - physiology

Neuroeffector Junction - metabolism

Details

Title: Subtitle: Mathematical model of cellular basis for the respiratory sinus arrhythmia
Creators: Franklin Dexter - Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City 52242
Yoram Rudy
Matthew N Levy
Eugene N Bruce
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of theoretical biology, Vol.150(2), pp.157-173
DOI: 10.1016/S0022-5193(05)80329-7
PMID: 1890853
NLM abbreviation: J Theor Biol
ISSN: 0022-5193
eISSN: 1095-8541
Publisher: England
Grant note: HL-33343 / NHLBI NIH HHS HL-10951 / NHLBI NIH HHS GMO-7250 / NIGMS NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 05/21/1991
Academic Unit: Health Management and Policy; Anesthesia
Record Identifier: 9983805903102771

Metrics

16 Record Views

10 Times Cited - Web of Science