Effect of inferior vena cava occlusion on left ventricular end-systolic pressure-volume relations in intact canine hearts modulation by the autonomic nervous system

Abstract

The effect of inferior vena cava occlusion (IVCO) on end-systolic pressure-volume relations (ESPVR) of the left ventricle was studied in intact canine hearts. In 12 anesthetized open-chest dogs, left ventricular (LV) pressure and volume were measured simultaneously using a microtip catheter and a conductance catheter, respectively. ESPVR was constructed from LV pressure-volume loops during IVCO (10 sec) and subsequent IVCO release under 5 conditions: control, after right or left cardiac sympathetic nerve (CSN) stimulation, bilateral vagotomy (VAT), and both VAT and bilateral CSN resection. E(max) in IVCO release was significantly greater than that in IVCO in the control state. Following right or left CSN stimulation, E(max) was increased in both IVCO and IVCO release, with the same hysteretic change in E(max). With VAT, however, no hysteretic change was observed because E(max) was the same in IVCO and IVCO release. After VAT and CSN resection, E(max) was decreased in both IVCO and IVCO release, and again no hysteretic change was observed. These data imply that a sudden decrease in venous return into the heart induces a decrease in afferent vagal nerve activity, and thus increases efferent CSN activity, resulting in enhanced myocardial contractility.