Sinoatrial node sympathovagal balance and intrinsic heart rate at rest: no difference between young healthy women and men
Abstract
Differences in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity is one potential explanation for differences in cardiac electrophysiology between women and men. We therefore compared the ANS influence on the sinoatrial node (SAN; main cardiac impulse generator), between women and men at rest. Atropine and propranolol were used to sequentially block the two ANS limbs. There were no statistically significant differences between women and men in the ANS influence on the SAN at rest.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
Heart rate and cardiovascular health
Cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias
Publication details
- Journal / source
- American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- Volume
- 330
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- H955–H960
- Publication date
- 7 February 2026
- Language
- EN