Symbolic Dynamic Analysis of Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Time Series of Rats

Insight in complex heart rate and blood pressure interactions reveals the most important aspects of autonomic control. Our main interest was in baroreceptor reflex (BRR), the most important autonomic cardiovascular reflex. We evaluated the joint symbolic dynamics of heart rate and blood pressure variations in assessing the BRR by opening the BRR loop at different levels using pharmacological blockade of β-adrenergic, α -adrenergic and M-cholinergic receptors. Experiments were done in conscious telemetred Wistar out bred male rats. The observed changes between experimental groups are promising for use of symbolic dynamic method in assessment of impaired autonomic control of the cardiovascular system.