Evaluation of the Autonomic Nervous System in a Canine Model of Chronic Embolic Pulmonary Hypertension

• Published in: Veterinary research communications Vol. 44; no. 2; pp. 73 - 81
• Main Authors: Ogawa, Mizuki, Ishizaka, Mio, Akabane, Ryota, Sakatani, Atsushi, Nagakawa, Masayoshi, Miyakawa, Hirosumi, Miyagawa, Yuichi, Takemura, Naoyuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.05.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Autonomic nervous system; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Dogs; Heart rate; Hypertension; Life Sciences; Nervous system; Original Article; Pulmonary hypertension; Sildenafil; Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science; Zoology; Heart rate; Sildenafil; Heart rate variability; Pulmonary hypertension
• ISSN: 0165-7380; 1573-7446
• DOI: 10.1007/s11259-020-09774-z

Background Sildenafil improves autonomic dysfunction caused by pulmonary hypertension (PH) in humans, but its effect is unknown in dogs with PH. This prospective study aimed to evaluate the autonomic nervous system function of a canine model of chronic embolic PH (CEPH) and the autonomic nervous system function of a canine model of CEPH in which sildenafil was administered. Methods This study used five clinically healthy female beagle dogs. Evaluation parameters included hemodynamic parameters, heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV). Each evaluation parameter was compared before and after creating the CEPH model (before, BL; after, CEPH BL ) and between the CEPH BL model and after the administration of sildenafil (1 mg/kg, BID) in the CEPH model dogs (CEPH Sil ). Results In the CEPH BL model, the hemodynamic parameters indicated cardiac hypofunction, and HR was significantly increased and HRV was significantly decreased compared with BL. Further, in the CEPH Sil model, the hemodynamic parameters suggested improvement in cardiac function, and HRV was significantly increased. Conclusions From the results of the CEPH model dogs, autonomic dysfunction was shown to occur in PH dogs. In addition, the administration of 1 mg/kg of sildenafil to CEPH model dogs may improve autonomic dysfunction.