A simulation study of the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of a local cardiac reflex in the rat

Experimental efforts in th authors´ group have suggested the existence of local cardiac reflex in the rat. In this study, the putative role of such a local reflex in cardiovascular regulation is analyzed. A model for the local reflex based on the anatomical results and physiological and pharmacological data from other labs and literature is developed. Using this model, a systems level analysis is conducted. Simulation results indicate that the neuromodulatory mechanism of the local reflex attenuates the nonlinearity of the relationship between cardiac vagal drive and arterial pressure. Based on these results, it is plausible that the functional role of the local reflex is highly robust nonlinear compensation at the heart, which results in less complex dynamics in other parts of the reflex