Stellate ganglion nerve activity (SGNA) is important in cardiac arrhythmogenesis. However, direct recording of SGNA requires access to the thoracic cavity. Skin of upper thorax is innervated by sympathetic nerve fibers originating from the stellate ganglia and is easily accessible.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that thoracic skin nerve activity (SKNA) can be used to estimate SGNA.

We recorded SGNA and SKNAs using surface electrocardiogram leads in 5 anesthetized and 4 ambulatory dogs. Apamin injected into the right stellate ganglion abruptly increased both right SGNA and SKNA in 5 anesthetized dogs. We integrated nerve activities and averaged heart rate in each 1-minure window over 10 minutes. We implanted a radiotransmitter to record left SGNA in 4 ambulatory dogs (2 normal, 1 with myocardial infarction, 1 with intermittent rapid atrial pacing). After 2 weeks of recovery, we simultaneously recorded the SKNA and left SGNA continuously for 30 minutes when the dogs were ambulatory.

There was a positive correlation [average r = 0.877, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.732–1.000, P <.05 for each dog] between integrated skin nerve activity (iSKNA) and SGNA (iSGNA) and between iSKNA and heart rate (average r = 0.837, 95% CI 0.752–0.923, P <.05). Similar to that found in the anesthetized dogs, there was a positive correlation (average r = 0.746, 95% CI 0.527–0.964, P <.05) between iSKNA and iSGNA and between iSKNA and heart rate (average r = 0.706, 95% CI 0.484–0.927, P <.05).

SKNAs can be used to estimate SGNA in dogs.