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The responses of superior laryngeal nerve afferent fibres to laryngeal airway CO2 concentration in the anaesthetized cat
Author(s) -
Bradford A,
Nolan P,
McKeogh D,
Ban C,
O'Regan RG
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
experimental physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1469-445X
pISSN - 0958-0670
DOI - 10.1113/expphysiol.1990.sp003402
Subject(s) - larynx , superior laryngeal nerve , airway , respiration , anesthesia , sensory system , recurrent laryngeal nerve , respiratory system , medicine , anatomy , cats , afferent , laryngeal diseases , biology , neuroscience , thyroid
In anaesthetized cats, the isolated, in situ, larynx was subjected to a simulated respiratory cycle and the responses of fifty‐six superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) afferent fibres to respiration‐related stimuli were examined during changes in the fractional CO2 concentration of the laryngeal airway (Faw, CO2). Sensory SLN fibres which displayed low rates of discharge when the larynx was unventilated (quiescent fibres) and which responded to negative laryngeal airway pressure were excited by elevations in Faw, CO2 whereas quiescent fibres responsive to positive laryngeal pressure were inhibited by the same procedure. We propose that changes in airway CO2 levels may play a role in maintaining upper airway patency, especially during sleep.