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Electrocardiographic studies of the three-toed sloth, Bradypus variegatus
Silva, E. M; Duarte, D. P. F; Da Costa, C. P.
  • Silva, E. M; Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia. Recife. BR
  • Duarte, D. P. F; Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia. Recife. BR
  • Da Costa, C. P; Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia. Recife. BR
Braz. j. med. biol. res ; 38(12): 1885-1888, Dec. 2005.
Article in English | LILACS | ID: lil-417196
ABSTRACT
Electrocardiograms (ECG) obtained with standard limb leads and augmented unipolar limb leads were recorded from 17 unanesthetized adult sloths. The animals were held in their habitual position in an experimental chair. We determined heart rate and rhythm from the R-R intervals, the amplitude and duration of each wave, and the duration of the segments and intervals of the ECG. The mean electrical axes of P and T waves and QRS complex were calculated on the basis of the amplitude of these waves in leads I, II, III, aV R, aV L, and aV F. The P wave appeared positive in most tracings with low amplitude in lead II, the QRS complex was generally negative in leads aV R, III and aV F, and no arrhythmias were observed. With a mean ± SD heart rate for all recordings of 81 ± 18 bpm, the duration of P and T waves, QRS complex, and PR, QT and RR intervals averaged 0.05 ± 0.02, 0.15 ± 0.05, 0.07 ± 0.02, 0.13 ± 0.02, 0.38 ± 0.04, and 0.74 ± 0.17 s, respectively. The ECG shape had a definite configuration on each lead. The angles of the mean ± SD electrical axes for atrial and ventricular depolarization and ventricular repolarization in the horizontal plane were +34 ± 68°, -35 ± 63°, and -23 ± 68°, respectively. All electrical axes showed great variations and their mean values suggest that, when the sloth is in a seated position, the heart could be displaced by the diaphragm to a semi-horizontal position.
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Full text: Available Index: LILACS (Americas) Main subject: Sloths / Electrocardiography / Heart Rate Limits: Animals / Humans / Male Language: English Journal: Braz. j. med. biol. res Journal subject: Biology / Medicine Year: 2005 Type: Article Affiliation country: Brazil Institution/Affiliation country: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco/BR

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Full text: Available Index: LILACS (Americas) Main subject: Sloths / Electrocardiography / Heart Rate Limits: Animals / Humans / Male Language: English Journal: Braz. j. med. biol. res Journal subject: Biology / Medicine Year: 2005 Type: Article Affiliation country: Brazil Institution/Affiliation country: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco/BR