Effect of ambient temperature on power spectral density of arterial pressure during sleep in the rat.

Abstract

Power spectral density (PSD) of arterial pressure (AP) during sleep was observed at various ambient temperatures (Ta: 16, 22 and 28 degrees C). Average AP and heart rate (HR) during sleep increased with lowering of Ta. PSD of AP during slow wave sleep (SWS) decreased over the entire range of frequency with increasing of Ta. Low frequency component (approximately 0.1 Hz) in PSD of AP during paradoxical sleep (PS) increased, while higher frequency component (0.1 Hz approximately) decreased with increasing of Ta. This study suggests that Ta affects the PSD of AP during sleep, and that vasomotor sympathetic tone during PS might increase with increasing of Ta.