An empirical methodology for the definition of frequency bands for spectral analysis of heart rate variability in animals: Application to Sprague-Dawley rats

Abstract

A new methodology for definition of frequency bands for spectral analysis of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) in animals is presented. There are differences between species and strains in the cardiovascular properties that hamper the definition of guidelines for standardizing the collection and analysis of HRV in animal research. We propose an empirical method to define the limits of the low frequency (LF) and high frequency bands (HF) that can be used to any animal species without pharmacological intervention. The method is applied to RR series in unrestrained Sprague-Dawley rats.