Respiratory sinus arrhythmia in humans: how breathing pattern modulates heart rate

The relationship of respiratory sinus arrhythmia amplitude (RSA) to tidal volume and breathing frequency was quantified during voluntarily controlled tidal volume and breathing frequency and spontaneous quiet breathing. Seventeen seated subjects breathed via mouthpiece and nose-clip, maintaining constant tidal volumes at each of several breathing frequencies. Inspiratory breath hold was zero frequency. Log RSA was plotted vs. log frequency for each tidal volume. The large stable RSA for frequencies less than 6 cycles/min was called low-frequency intercept (LFI, 20 +/- 5 beats/min). Low-frequency intercept was inversely proportional to a subject's age only to 35 yr. At higher breathing frequencies above a characteristic corner frequency (fC, 7.2 +/- 1.5 cycles/min) RSA decreased with constant slope (roll-off; 21 +/- 3.4 dB/decade). The RSA-volume relationship was linear permitting normalization of RSA-frequency curves for tidal volume to yield one curve. Spontaneous breathing data points fell on this curve. Voluntarily coupling of heart rate to breathing frequency in integer ratios reduced breath-by-breath variability of RSA without changing mean RSA. In conclusion, low-frequency intercept, corner frequency, and roll-off characterize an individual's RSA-frequency relationship during both voluntarily controlled and spontaneous breathing.

Volume, flow, and timing of each breath during negative airway pressure in humans

We have analyzed the effects of 4-6 min of 5, 10 and 15 cmH2O continuous negative airway pressure breathing (NPB) on steady-state end-expiratory lung volume (delta VR) and breathing pattern. Fourteen healthy adults, seated in a full body box, breathed via a mouthpiece on a bag-in-box. Pressure in the body box was elevated to the desired pressure level. Inspiratory (TI) and expiratory (TE) durations, tidal volume (VT), minute ventilation (VI), mean inspiratory flow (VT/TI), and mean expiratory flow (VT/TE) were calculated from pneumotachometer recordings. The effects of NPB are decreases in delta VR, VT, and VT/TI and increases in VT/TE. The responses to NPB are an increase in breathing frequency, due to a shortened TE, and an increase in inspiratory activity. The decrease in delta VR and the increase in VT/TE are limited by an active retardation of expiratory flow. End-tidal CO2 and VI were not altered significantly during NPB, suggesting no alveolar hyperventilation. Thus multiple components of the human response to NPB are not all engaged at the same levels of NPB. The changes in the timing of respiratory events occur at -5 cmH2O, whereas VT compensation is not seen until -15 cmH2O.

Effect of oxygen in graded concentrations upon tracheal mucous velocity. A study in anesthetized dogs

Graded concentrations of oxygen were used to establish dose-duration relations for the effect of oxygen on tracheal mucous velocity and tracheobronchial histologic findings in the anesthetized dog. Observations of tracheal mucous velocity were made during 30-hour periods of breathing air (100-percent humidified and warmed to 38 degrees C) and oxygen mixtures (also 100-percent humidified and warmed to 38 degrees C). In animals breathing oxygen mixtures, the baseline tracheal mucous velocity was taken as the value while breathing room air at the experiment's start. No statistically significant differences in tracheal mucous velocity occurred during air breathing. Tracheal mucous velocity fell 45 percent from the baseline value after breathing 100-percent oxygen for two hours (P less than 0.01), fell 42 percent after 75-percent oxygen for nine hours (P less than 0.01) and fell 51 percent after 50-percent oxygen for 30 hours (P less than 0.001). Histologic examination of the trachea and major bronchi after six hours of 100-percent oxygen and 12 hours of 75-percent oxygen revealed signs of acute tracheobronchitis. Minor histologic alterations in the tracheobronchial tree occurred both in animals breathing air and 50-percent oxygen for 30 hours; therefore, histologic evidence of oxygen toxicity could not be established at 30 hours. These findings indicate that in the anesthetized dog, oxygen depresses mucous transport as a function of inspired oxygen concentration (FIO2) and that even FIO2 as low as 0.05 might be deleterious.

Effects of dry air and subsequent humidification on tracheal mucous velocity in dogs

The impairment of mucociliary transport by dry air breathing and the restoration of function with subsequent humidification of inspired air were investigated in anesthetized dogs. Tracheal mucous velocity was measured by a cinebronchofiberscopic technique. The breathing of dry air through an uncuffed endotracheal tube produced almost complete cessation of the flow of tracheal mucus after 3 h. Subsequent breathing of air at 38 degrees C with 100% relative humidity restored tracheal mucous velocity to control values by the end of and additional 3 h. Histologic examination of the trachea at the end of the 3-h dry air breathing period revealed focal areas of sloughing of the ciliated epithelium and submucosal inflammation. Although morphometry was not employed, the inflammatory changes appeared to have progressed during 3 h of breathing fully humidified air subsequent to the dry air breathing period. These findings were consistent with previous reports that the inflammatory response to injury of the tracheobronchial mucosa might be delayed and that the mucociliary transport system has a great deal of functional reserve. We found that an artificial heat and moisture exchanger placed on the proximal end of an endotracheal tube partially protects against the suppression of tracheal mucous velocity caused by dry air breathing.

Tracheal mucous transport in Beagles after long-term exposure to 1 ppm sulfur dioxide

Tracheal mucous velocity was determined in eight purebred beagle dogs exposed intermittently to 1 ppm sulfur dioxide for 12 months. Three control dogs were also studied. Teflon disks filmed at constant speed through a bronchofiberscope served as indicators of mucous motion. An average of 16 disks were analyzed in each dog. Although there was no significant difference in average velocity for controls and the SO-2-exposed animals, the frequency distribution curve of individual disk velocities in SO-2-exposed dogs revealed significant slowing. No significant differences in mechanics of breathing and gas exchange were found between the two groups. It appears that long-term exposure to low levels of SO-2 produces an impairment of mucociliary activity as one of the first signs of pulmonary dysfunction.

Effects of topical and general anesthetic agents on tracheal mucous velocity of sheep

Tracheal mucous velocity was estimated in eleven sheep by means of cine-bronchofiberscopic technique in which Teflon discs placed on the tracheal mucosa were filmed as markers. The procedure was done using a transnasal approach in conscious nonanesthetized sheep, and in the same sheep using topical and/or general anesthetic agents. The average mucous velocity in conscious sheep was 17.3 plus or minus 6.2 (SD) mm/min; in sheep anesthetized with intravenous pentobarbital or thioamylal, the average velocity was significantly depressed to 11.1 plus or minus 3.6 mm/min. No Significant differences in tracheal mucous velocity were found when 10 ml of 2 percent lidocaine was instilled into the tracheas of either conscious sheep or sheep under general anesthesia. Sheep as an animal model appear to be ideal in the study of the responses of tracheal mucous velocity to physical and chemical agents since they tolerate bronchofiberscopy quite well without the use of topical or general anesthetic agents. The basis for the depression of tracheal mucous velocity by barbiturates cannot be ascertained from the present study but the model should be useful for comparing different types of anesthetic agents.