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Glycinergic inhibition is essential for co‐ordinating cranial and spinal respiratory motor outputs in the neonatal rat
Author(s) -
Dutschmann M.,
Paton J. F. R.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2001.013466
Subject(s) - strychnine , glycine receptor , respiratory system , phrenic nerve , medicine , anesthesia , medulla oblongata , respiratory center , control of respiration , ventilation (architecture) , glycine , central nervous system , chemistry , endocrinology , pharmacology , mechanical engineering , biochemistry , amino acid , engineering
Eupnoeic breathing in mammals is dependent on the co‐ordinated activity of cranial and spinal motor outputs to both ventilate the lungs and adjust respiratory airflow, which they do by regulating upper‐airway resistance. We investigated the role of central glycinergic inhibition in the co‐ordination of cranial and spinal respiratory motor outflows. We developed an arterially perfused neonatal rat preparation (postnatal age 0–4 days) to assess the effects of blocking glycine receptors with systemically administered strychnine (0.5–1 μM). We recorded respiratory neurones located within the ventrolateral medulla, inspiratory phrenic nerve activity (PNA) and recurrent laryngeal nerve activity (RLNA), as well as dynamic changes in laryngeal resistance. Central recordings of postinspiratory neurones revealed an earlier onset in firing relative to the onset of inspiratory PNA after exposure to strychnine (260 ± 38.9 vs. 129 ± 26.8 ms). After glycine receptor blockade, postinspiratory neurones discharged during the inspiratory phase. Strychnine also evoked a decrease in PNA frequency (from 38.6 ± 4.7 to 30.7 ± 2.8 bursts min −1 ), but amplitude was unaffected. In control conditions, RLNA comprised inspiratory and postinspiratory discharges; the amplitude of the latter exceeded that of the former. However, after administration of strychnine, the amplitude of inspiratory‐related discharge increased (+65.2 ± 15.2%) and exceeded postinspiratory activity. Functionally this change in RLNA caused a paradoxical, inspiratory‐related glottal constriction during PNA. We conclude that during the first days of life in the rat, glycine receptors are essential for the formation of the eupnoeic‐like breathing pattern as defined by the co‐ordinated activity of cranial and spinal motor inspiratory and postinspiratory activities.

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