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Sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) is an extracellular recording of the central nervous system. SNA demonstrates “bursting” behavior, where groups of action potentials are synchronized and linked to the cardiac cycle via the arterial baroreflex. Although a number of hemodynamic, pharmacological, and biochemical techniques have been developed to evaluate sympathetic tone, direct recording from the nerve fibers is considered one of the most accurate ways to study sympathetic nervous system activity.
The autonomic regulation of blood flow to various systems is dominated by the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Alterations of SNA to most vascular beds (e.g. renal, splanchnic, skeletal muscle) results in acute arterial pressure responses. Increased SNA constricts blood vessels (vasoconstriction) primarily through the release of noradrenaline (norepinephrine), thereby causing an increase in blood pressure. Recent evidence indicates that overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system is a major factor in the development of hypertension (high blood pressure) and further increases the fluid retention problems seen in heart failure. Due to its accessibility and well characterized functional significance, the renal sympathetic nerve is the most commonly investigated sympathetic nerve
The TRM56SP telemeters allow users to simultaneously record SNA and blood pressure to give an insight into the autonomic control of cardiovascular physiology. The input range of the SNA leads is ±60µV making it ideal for activity recording from fine, peripheral autonomic nerves studies in studies of stress, cardiovascular control and the development of hypertension.
Renal SNA Recording Recordings of renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) are typically 20 to 50 μV in amplitude and performed using amplifiers with a bandwidth of 50 Hz to 3 kHz. The amplified nerve potentials are then rectified and integrated over periods between 0.2 and 1 second to quantify activity. However, many researchers quantify the level of SNA as a percentage of control because the actual voltage varies depending on the contact between the nerve and recording electrode. Therefore, changes in SNA are commonly measured as changes per unit of time.
LabChart software is designed specifically for life science data and provides up to 32 channels for data display and analysis options that are powerful and easy to use. With auto-recognition of ADI and LabChart Compatible hardware, multi-window views, one touch recording, simultaneous recording from multiple devices, specialized preconfigured settings, easy sharing options and an interface that can be customized to show only the features you want to use.
One method of determining if the bursts are occurring at the same time in the cardiac cycle is to average the signal with respect to the systolic peak in the arterial pressure signal. This method was described in Guild et al. 2010. Instructions (Tech note) for how to perform this analysis in LabChart and an example LabChart data file are available for download using the links below.
Download instructions and an example data file showing how to use LabChart to determine if bursts of SNA occur in time with the arterial pulse.
Guild et al. “Quantifying sympathetic nerve activity: problems, pitfalls and the need for standardization.“ Experimental Physiology 95(1), 41-50, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1113/expphysiol.2008.046300 ×
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