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Ventral Medullary Inspiratory Neurons Do Not Contribute to Increased Inspiratory Drive during Swallow
Author(s) -
Pitts Teresa,
King Suzanne,
Poliacek Ivan
Publication year - 2016
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.30.1_supplement.1261.4
Subject(s) - swallowing , medicine , esophagus , control of respiration , respiratory system , anesthesia , pharynx , pharyngeal muscles , respiration , anatomy , surgery
Schluckatmung (swallow‐breath) is believed to be an evolutionarily preserved strategy from deglutition to eupnea. The schluckatmung is composed of both alterations in respiratory phase timing as well as a transient increase in inspiratory motor drive. This increased inspiratory motor drive creates a negative trans‐diaphragmatic pressure that moves the bolus from the pharynx into the esophagus. Our previous work showed that inspiratory neurons in the region of the dorsal respiratory column (DRC) increase instantaneous firing rate during the schluckatmung, consistent with an important role for this population of neurons in swallowing. We hypothesized that this role of DRC neurons in the generation of the schluckatmung is unique, and not shared by other inspiratory neurons in the ventrolateral medulla. A multi‐channel electrode array was used to record ventral respiratory column (VRC) neurons in anesthetized, spontaneously breathing cats. Swallowing was induced by injection of water into the oropharynx. Electromyograms (EMG) were recorded from pharyngeal, laryngeal, and chest wall muscles, and intra‐esophageal pressure was recorded from the mid‐thoracic esophagus. Unlike previously reported dorsal respiration column neurons, VRC inspiratory neurons significantly decreased their firing rate during swallow compared to eupnea. Suppression of VRC inspiratory neurons could play an important role in phase timing for swallow and phase‐lag of esubsequent inspirations for breathing and cough. Supported by HL 111215, P30‐GM103507. Support or Funding Information Supported by HL 111215, P30‐GM103507.