Heart–Lung Interactions: The Sigh And Autonomic Control In The Bronchial And Coronary Circulations

Abstract

1. The Darwin hypothesis that human and animal expressions of emotion are the product of evolution and are tied to patterns of autonomic activity specified to progress the emotion remains under challenge. 2. The sigh is a respiratory behaviour linked with emotional expression in animals and humans from birth to death. The aim of the present study was to explore Darwin's hypothesis with respect to tied autonomic activity underlying sigh-induced changes in the bronchial and coronary circulations. 3. Awake dogs were prepared using pulsed ultrasonic flow probes on the right bronchial artery, parent intercostal artery and brachial artery, or on the right, circumflex and anterior descending coronary arteries. Central venous (CVP) and arterial pressures (AP) were measured; heart rate and flow conductances were derived. Three spontaneous sighs were monitored before and during random blockade of individual and combinations of cholinoceptors, alpha-adrenoceptors and beta-adrenoceptors using methscopolamine, phentolamine and propranolol infusions. The data were subject to a 2(3) factorial analysis. 4. A spontaneous sigh is marked by a transient fall and return (< 3 s) in CVP of 18 mmHg (from 4 +/- 1 to -14 +/- 2 mmHg), usually followed by apnoea lasting 23 +/- 2 s. There is an immediate tachycardia and small rise in AP (phase 1) then, during apnoea, bradycardia and a fall in AP (phase 2). During phase 2, bronchial and coronary blood flow and conductance rise two- to three-fold over 30s (peak at 8s). The vascular changes are absent in parent intercostal and brachial beds.

The Integrative Role of the Sigh in Psychology, Physiology, Pathology, and Neurobiology

“…Indeed, one of the hallmarks of sighs is their association with an initial heart rate increase, which is followed by a heart rate decrease (Fig. 3; Haupt et al, 2012; McNamara et al, 1998; Porges et al, 2000; Weese-Mayer et al, 2008a; Wulbrand et al, 2008). This sigh-coupled heart rate change not only seems to be important for coordinating cardiorespiratory function but also correlates with the degree of cortical arousal (Thach, 2002; Thach and Lijowska, 1996).…”

Central and peripheral factors contributing to obstructive sleep apneas

“…Sighs are also associated with a heart rate increase followed by a heart rate decrease (Haupt et al, 2012; McNamara et al, 1998; Porges et al, 2000; Weese-Mayer et al, 2008; Wulbrand et al, 2008). The heart rate changes associated with the sigh are often altered in human diseases such as familial dysautonomia, sickle cell anemia, and SIDS (Franco et al, 2003; Sangkatumvong et al, 2011; Weese-Mayer et al, 2008).…”

Neural Control of the Bronchial Circulation

“…The sigh evokes in dogs and sheep a quick fall (average about 18 mm Hg) and return to baseline (<4 s) of central venous pressure reflecting changes in intrathoracic pressure, and this is followed by a rise in bronchial artery flow and conductance of 1.2-2.5-fold over 18-30 s. These effects are not present in the parent intercostal artery. Studies in the dog of spontaneous, random sigh effects during different combinations of sequential autonomic receptor blockade of cholinoceptors, a-and b-adrenoceptors, were the subject of a 2 3 factorial analysis (Hennessy, 1996;Porges et al, 2000). It was shown that 17% of the rise in conductance was due to a-, b-adrenoceptor interaction.…”