An indirect component in the evoked compound action potential of the vagal nerve

• Published in: Journal of neural engineering Vol. 7; no. 6; p. 066001
• Main Authors: Ordelman, Simone C M A, Kornet, Lilian, Cornelussen, Richard, Buschman, Hendrik P J, Veltink, Peter H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-12-2010
• Subjects: Action Potentials - drug effects; Action Potentials - physiology; Animals; Brain Stem - physiology; Cardiotonic Agents - pharmacology; Cardiovascular System; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Dobutamine - pharmacology; Electric Stimulation; Electrocardiography; Electrodes, Implanted; Evoked Potentials - drug effects; Evoked Potentials - physiology; Female; Heart - physiology; Heart Rate - physiology; Myocardial Contraction - drug effects; Myocardial Contraction - physiology; Swine; Vagus Nerve - drug effects; Vagus Nerve - physiology
• ISSN: 1741-2552
• DOI: 10.1088/1741-2560/7/6/066001

The vagal nerve plays a vital role in the regulation of the cardiovascular system. It not only regulates the heart but also sends sensory information from the heart back to the brain. We hypothesize that the evoked vagal nerve compound action potential contains components that are indirect via the brain stem or coming via the neural network on the heart. In an experimental study of 15 pigs, we identified four components in the evoked compound action potentials. The fourth component was found to be an indirect component, which came from the periphery. The latency of the indirect component increased when heart rate and contractility were decreased by burst stimulation (P = 0.01; n = 7). When heart rate and contractility were increased by dobutamine administration, the latency of the indirect component decreased (P = 0.01; n = 9). This showed that the latency of the indirect component of the evoked compound action potentials may relate to the state of the cardiovascular system.