Autonomic Balance in Cardiac Control

Abstract

Stimulation of the sympathetic nerves to the heart in anesthetized dogs produced tachycardia and changes in left ventricular performance, including alterations in both pressures and dimensions. Stimulation of the vagus nerves in dogs predominately induced a bradycardia. When the heart rate was controlled by an artificial pacemaker, sympathetic stimulation produced changes in ventricular performance. By adjustments in stimulus frequency, the effects of vagal and sympathetic stimulation on heart rate could be balanced, but complete cancellation of effects was impossible because the vagus had a more powerful effect on heart rate and the sympathetic nerves had a greater influence on mechanical performance.