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Current Approaches to Quantifying Tonic and Reflex Autonomic Outflows Controlling Cardiovascular Function in Humans and Experimental Animals

  • Hypertension and the Kidney (RM Carey, Section Editor)
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Abstract

The role of the autonomic nervous system in the pathophysiology of human and experimental models of cardiovascular disease is well established. In the recent years, there have been some rapid developments in the diagnostic approaches used to assess and monitor autonomic functions. Although most of these methods are devoted for research purposes in laboratory animals, many have still found their way to routine clinical practice. To name a few, direct long-term telemetry recording of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) in rodents, single-unit SNA recording using microneurography in human subjects and spectral analysis of blood pressure and heart rate in both humans and animals have recently received an overwhelming attention. In this article, we therefore provide an overview of the methods and techniques used to assess tonic and reflex autonomic functions in humans and experimental animals, highlighting current advances available and procedure description, limitations and usefulness for diagnostic purposes.

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Professor Jacqueline Phillips, Dr Cara Hildreth (Macquarie University, Australia), Dr Clive May (University of Melbourne, Australia), Dr Virginia Brooks (Oregon Health and Science University, USA) and Dr Ann Schreihofer (University of North Texas Health Science Centre, USA) for their constructive input on the manuscript.

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Dr. Salman declares no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Ibrahim M. Salman

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Hypertension and the Kidney

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Salman, I.M. Current Approaches to Quantifying Tonic and Reflex Autonomic Outflows Controlling Cardiovascular Function in Humans and Experimental Animals. Curr Hypertens Rep 17, 84 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-015-0597-2

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