Persistent alterations in heart rate variability, baroreflex sensitivity, and anxiety-like behaviors during development of heart failure in the rat

摘要

Depressed heart rate variability and mood are associated with increased mortality in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Here auto-nomic indexes were assessed 3 and 7 wk after left coronary artery ligation in telemetered rats, after which anxiety-like behaviors were assessed in an elevated plus maze. Low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) heart rate variability were reduced in CHF rats 3 wk after infarction (LF, 1.60+-0.52 vs. 6.97+-0.79 ms~2; and HF, 1.53+-0.39 vs. 6.20+-1.01 ms~2; P < 0.01).