Respiratory responses to stimulation of branchial vagus nerve ganglia of a teleost fish

The control of breathing in fishes - historical perspectives and the path ahead

The study of breathing in fishes has featured prominently in Journal of Experimental Biology (JEB), particularly during the latter half of the past century. Indeed, many of the seminal discoveries in this important sub-field of comparative respiratory physiology were reported first in JEB. The period spanning 1960-1990 (the 'golden age of comparative respiratory physiology') witnessed intense innovation in the development of methods to study the control of breathing. Many of the guiding principles of piscine ventilatory control originated during this period, including our understanding of the dominance of O2 as the driver of ventilation in fish. However, a critical issue - the identity of the peripheral O2 chemoreceptors - remained unanswered until methods for cell isolation, culture and patch-clamp recording established that gill neuroepithelial cells (NECs) respond to hypoxia in vitro. Yet, the role of the NECs and other putative peripheral or central chemoreceptors in the control of ventilation in vivo remains poorly understood. Further progress will be driven by the implementation of genetic tools, most of which can be used in zebrafish (Danio rerio). These tools include CRISPR/Cas9 for selective gene knockout, and Tol2 systems for transgenesis, the latter of which enables optogenetic stimulation of cellular pathways, cellular ablation and in vivo cell-specific biosensing. Using these methods, the next period of discovery will see the identification of the peripheral sensory pathways that initiate ventilatory responses, and will elucidate the nature of their integration within the central nervous system and their link to the efferent motor neurons that control breathing.

Evolution of vertebrate respiratory central rhythm generators

Tracing the evolution of the central rhythm generators associated with ventilation in vertebrates is hindered by a lack of information surrounding key transitions. To begin with, central rhythm generation has been studied in detail in only a few species from four vertebrate groups, lamprey, anuran amphibians, turtles, and mammals (primarily rodents). Secondly, there is a lack of information regarding the transition from water breathing fish to air breathing amniotes (reptiles, birds, and mammals). Specifically, the respiratory rhythm generators of fish appear to be single oscillators capable of generating both phases of the respiratory cycle (expansion and compression) and projecting to motoneurons in cranial nerves innervating bucco-pharyngeal muscles. In the amniotes we find oscillators capable of independently generating separate phases of the respiratory cycle (expiration and inspiration) and projecting to pre-motoneurons in the ventrolateral medulla that in turn project to spinal motoneurons innervating thoracic and abdominal muscles (reptiles, birds, and mammals). Studies of the one group of amphibians that lie at this transition (the anurans), raise intriguing possibilities but, for a variety of reasons that we explore, also raise unanswered questions. In this review we summarize what is known about the rhythm generating circuits associated with breathing that arise from the different rhombomeric segments in each of the different vertebrate classes. Assuming oscillating circuits form in every pair of rhombomeres in every vertebrate during development, we trace what appears to be the evolutionary fate of each and highlight the questions that remain to be answered to properly understand the evolutionary transitions in vertebrate central respiratory rhythm generation.

Effects of afferent input on the breathing pattern continuum in the tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum)

This study used a decerebrate and artificially-ventilated preparation to examine the roles of various afferent inputs in breathing pattern formation in the tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum). Three general breathing patterns were observed: (1) regular breathing; (2) frequency cycling and (3) episodic breathing. Under normoxic, normocapnic conditions, 50% of control fish exhibited regular continuous breathing and 50% exhibited frequency cycling. Denervation of the gills and oro-branchial cavity promoted frequency cycling. Central denervation of the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves produced episodic breathing. Regardless of the denervation state, hyperoxia produced either frequency cycling or episodic breathing while hypoxia and hypercarbia shifted the pattern to frequency cycling and continuous breathing. We suggest that these breathing patterns represent a continuum from continuous to episodic breathing with waxing and waning occupying an intermediate stage. The data further suggest that breathing pattern is influenced by both specific afferent input from chemoreceptors and generalised afferent input while chemoreceptors specific for producing changes in breathing pattern may exist in fish.

Central nervous control of gill filament muscles in channel catfish

The gills of fish are innervated by cranial nerves IX and X. There have been a number of studies on the characteristics of sensory activity carried by these nerves but remarkably little is known about motor control of the gills. Efferent, motor activity to the first gill arch was recorded from the glossopharyngeal nerve in spontaneously breathing channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. This study addressed two objectives. The first objective was to characterize efferent branchial nerve activity in spontaneously breathing fish. Nerve recordings show bursts of activity firing in synchrony with ventilation. These bursts occurred once during either abduction or adduction of the operculum with each breath. The observed patterns of neural activity indicate that it represents motor control of gill filament abductor and adductor muscles. The data show that rhythmic output from a central pattern generator controls filament musculature during the ventilatory cycle. The second objective was to use this efferent branchial nerve activity as an index of ventilation (fictive ventilation) in fish before and after paralysis to determine if feedback from phasic mechanoreceptors affects ventilatory timing. Breath-to-breath intervals measured before and after paralysis with gallamine were not significantly different, demonstrating that rhythmic feedback from phasic mechanoreceptors in the gills and/or ventilatory musculature is not involved in the breath-to-breath timing of the normal ventilatory cycle. During the course of these experiments many fish exhibited coughing. Coughs were characterized by a distinctive pattern of nerve activity that was not altered by paralysis. Overall, the data indicate that phasic mechanoreceptor feedback during normal breathing has no effect on the pattern of central motor control of gill filament muscles.

Central control of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and their interactions in vertebrates

This review explores the fundamental neuranatomical and functional bases for integration of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems in vertebrates and traces their evolution through the vertebrate groups, from primarily water-breathing fish and larval amphibians to facultative air-breathers such as lungfish and some adult amphibians and finally obligate air-breathers among the reptiles, birds, and mammals. A comparative account of respiratory rhythm generation leads to consideration of the changing roles in cardiorespiratory integration for central and peripheral chemoreceptors and mechanoreceptors and their central projections. We review evidence of a developing role in the control of cardiorespiratory interactions for the partial relocation from the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus into the nucleus ambiguus of vagal preganglionic neurons, and in particular those innervating the heart, and for the existence of a functional topography of specific groups of sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the spinal cord. Finally, we consider the mechanisms generating temporal modulation of heart rate, vasomotor tone, and control of the airways in mammals; cardiorespiratory synchrony in fish; and integration of the cardiorespiratory system during intermittent breathing in amphibians, reptiles, and diving birds. Concluding comments suggest areas for further productive research.

Sensory interaction with central 'generators' during respiration in the dogfish

The activity in sensory and motor nerves of the gills was recorded from selected branches of the vagus nerve in decerebrate dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula. Vagal motoneuronal activity was observed at the start of the rapid pharyngeal contraction and was followed by sensory nerve activity which preceded the slow expansion phase. Rhythmical vagal motoneuronal activity was still present after all movements had been prevented by curare paralysis although the frequency of the rhythm was higher than in the ventilating fish. Electrical stimulation of vagal sensory fibres had 3 effects on the ventilatory movements. (1) It evoked a reflex contraction of several gill muscles after a latency of about 11 ms. (2) It could reset the respiratory cycle because a stimulus given during expansion delayed the onset of the subsequent contraction. (3) The stimulus could entrain the rhythm if it was given continuously at a frequency close to that of ventilation. The vagal motor rhythm was disrupted by trigeminal nerve stimulation in the paralyzed fish but not if the motor rhythm was being entrained by vagal nerve stimulation. Vagal sensory activity may be important, therefore, in maintaining the stability of the generating circuits.

Mechanoreceptor activity in the gills of the carp. I. Gill filament and gill raker mechanoreceptors

Physiological properties of gill filament and gill raker mechanoreceptors in the gills of spontaneously breathing carp, Cyprinus carpio L., were analysed. Stroking stimuli applied to gill filaments elicited a phasic mechanoreceptive response, which was recorded from neurons in the epibranchial ganglia. Sustained deflection resulted in a short on-off response. The same neurons were also activated by slight movements of lamellae on a gill filament. The receptive field extended over all the lamellae of one filament at most, but generally covered a small part of it, including both dorsal and ventral lamellae. Deflection of gill rakers also elicited a brief response in epibranchial ganglion neurons. The threshold of both filament-related and gill raker mechanoreceptors was relatively high. They did not respond during normal respiration. It was therefore argued that these receptors do not function in normal respiratory control, but rather serve against mechanical damage from excessive pressure or particles in the water.

Mechanoreceptor activity in the gills of the carp. II. Gill arch proprioceptors

The presence of gill arch proprioceptors in the gills of a teleost, Cyprinus carpio L., is demonstrated and their firing characteristics are analysed. Spontaneous activity of gill arch proprioceptors was recorded from epibranchial ganglia. In paralysed fish the mean discharge rate for 16 receptors ranged from 11.3 impulses X sec-1 (SD 0.3) to 25.7 impulses X sec-1 (SD 0.4). The discharge rate could be influenced by displacement of the main elements of the respiratory pumping system. The receptors showed a tonic response. Their firing frequency was approximately linearly related to gill arch position and, hence, showed a respiratory modulation during ventilation. Gill arch adduction caused a decrease and abduction an increase in discharge rate. In actively breathing fish the mean firing frequency of 30 neurons ranged from 9.9 impulses X sec-1 (SD 0.7) to 40.1 impulses X sec-1 (SD 6.7). These gill arch proprioceptors are located in the cartilaginous strip between the epibranchial and the ceratobranchial of each gill arch and are innervated by the pretrematic branches of the vagal branchial nerves. The role these proprioceptors play in the regulation of gill movements during both feeding and ventilation is discussed.

The respiratory function of gill filament muscles in the carp

The activity pattern of the adductor muscles of the gill filaments has been determined with E.M.G. techniques and analysed in relation to the activity of the respiratory pump muscles, the respiratory movements and the hydrostatic pressures in buccal and opercular cavities. The gill filament adductor muscles contract twice during a normal respiratory cycle. First during the transition from the contraction to the expansion phase and for a second time at the end of the expansion phase. These two contractions serve different purposes. The first 'primes' the opercular pump for the start of the next expansion phase in the following way. At the end of the contraction phase, the final adduction of the opercula results in a positive pressure in the opercular cavities. If this pressure persisted until the start of the expansion, it would make the opercular suction pump inoperative, because it would blow away the flexible opercular flap which, as a passive valve, seals the widening opercular slit during abduction. Filament adduction at the transition from contraction to expansion, however, by lowering the resistance of the gill curtain, allows water to escape from the opercular cavities through the mouth and so reduces opercular pressure to zero before expansion starts. The second contraction of the filament adductor muscles, at the end of the expansion phase, occurs when the opercular flap separates from the body of the fish, opening the opercular slit. At this moment, there is a considerable negative pressure in the opercular cavity. Nevertheless, inflow of water through the opercular slit is negligible, because flow reversal is counteracted by the kinetic energy of the normal water flow from the buccal to the opercular cavities. This process is significantly facilitated by a reduction in gill resistance through filament adduction. In the cough, a burst of filament adductor activity occurs during the intermediate expansion. It then increases water flow velocity over the gills by lowering the gill resistance and also brings the filaments in such a position that the water flows parallel to their surface, which facilitates the flushing off of foreign matter.

Gill arch movements and the function of the dorsal gill arch muscles in the carp

The activity coordination of the dorsal gill arch muscles in a teleost, the carp, is described and the effect of their contraction in combination with the respiratory pump movements is analysed. Based on their origin and insertion the dorsal branchial arch muscles can be divided into three groups: the external branchial arch levators, connecting the branchial arches to the neurocranium, the internal branchial arch levators, connecting the pharyngobranchials to the neurocranium and the dorsal oblique muscles, interconnecting the branchial arches and pharyngobranchials. Functionally, however, there are only two categories with the following properties. The first, which consists of the external branchial arch levators alone, is active during every respiratory cycle, including the cough. These muscles expand the branchial basket through gill arch abduction and, in combination with hyomandibular pumping movements, lower the floor of the buccal cavity. The results of these combined movements are: The gill arches remain evenly distributed within the expanding branchial cavities during inspiration, so that continuity of the gill curtain is maintained. Water flow resistance is reduced also. The volume of water flowing into the buccal cavity during inspiration is increased. The second category, comprising the internal branchial arch levators and the dorsal oblique muscles, contracts only during the cough and else is completely inactive. Contraction of these muscles reinforces the dorsal suspension of the gill arches by firmly anchoring the pharyngobranchials and epibranchials to the base of the skull. In this way strong, caudally directed forces which develop during the intermediate expansion of the cough can be prevented from dislocating the branchial basket.