Association of breathing movements to the variability of heart rate and blood pressure in foetal lambs

Heart rate (HR) variability and arterial blood pressure (BP) variability were analysed as functions of foetal breathing movements (FBMs) by means of power spectral analysis in seven foetal lambs during the third trimester of gestation. No evidence of FBM-related changes, either in mean HR, mean systolic or diastolic arterial pressures, were found. Mean arterial pulse pressure, HR variability, and BP variability increased during FBMs. The increase in BP variability occurred at frequencies higher than 0.35 Hz, i.e. those of FBMs. The increase in HR variability occurred at 0.07-1.0 Hz, i.e. at every frequency band except the lowest one. Thus, the increase in HR variability was not frequency-specifically related to FBMs. During FBMs the periodic variability of HR at frequencies > 0.35 Hz was only 10% of total HR variability. We suggest that the FBM-related changes of BP variability may be mediated by direct peripheral, hydraulic mechanisms. HR changes involve autonomic control systems: the vagal component of baroreflex seems to be relatively insensitive, whereas the very slow vasomotor component of HR variability is dominant.