Intracellular recordings of respiratory neurons in the lateral medulla of piglets

E. E. Lawson, D. W. Richter, A. Bischoff

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Membrane potentials of respiratory neurons in the ventral respiratory group were recorded using intracellular techniques in the medulla of newborn piglets. Three types of neurons were demonstrated: inspiratory neurons with an augmenting pattern of spike activity during inspiration; postinspiratory neurons with a short decrementing firing pattern that started immediately after inspiration ended; and stage II expiratory neurons with an augmenting spiking pattern that began shortly after inspiratory termination and ended before onset of the next inspiration. When not firing, the membrane potential trajectories of each cell type revealed two complementary patterns of relative inhibition. This latter finding suggests arrival of inhibitory synaptic potentials during these periods. These findings suggest that the respiratory control mechanisms of the newborn piglet are organized in a three-phased manner similar to that of adult cats.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)983-988
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of applied physiology
Volume66
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1989
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Intracellular recordings of respiratory neurons in the lateral medulla of piglets'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this