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Multielectrode recording of respiratory neuronal activities in pontine microcircuits
Author(s) -
Yu Yunguo,
Song Gang,
MacDonald Shawna M,
Poon ChiSang
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a367-b
Subject(s) - neuroscience , respiratory system , medicine , biomedical engineering , biology
Recent studies showed that the pontine pneumotaxic region plays an important role in integrating inputs from vagally‐mediated pulmonary mechanoreceptors that modulate the respiratory rhythm. To characterize the neuronal microcircuits underlying this process, we recorded simultaneously the extracellular activities of multiple pontine pneumotaxic neurons using a tungsten microelectrodes array with a multichannel data acquisition system from urethane‐anesthetized, bi‐vagotamized, paralyzed and servo‐ventilated adult rats. The neuronal responses to vagal electrical stimulation (80 Hz, 20‐40 μA, 1 min) were analyzed. Of a total of 452 dorsolateral pontine neurons recorded in 22 rats, 61 units showed respiratory‐modulated rhythmic activities with either inspiratory, expiratory, or phase‐spanning discharge patterns, sometimes with superimposed tonic discharge. Pairwise cross‐correlation analysis identified 16 (out of total 256) neuronal pairs showing short‐latency offset peaks suggesting functional correlations among them. Vagal stimulation attenuated or suppressed the rhythmic activities in most respiratory‐modulated neurons (n=53) and promoted tonic discharges in others (n=8). Gravitational transformation of ensemble spike‐train activities before, during and after vagal stimulation revealed functional convergence or divergence of respiratory neuronal responses. Results showed that pontine respiratory neurons displayed a multiplicity of rhythmic patterns with differing responsiveness to vagal stimulation. Supported by NIH grants HL67966 and HL072849.