Neural circuits controlling diaphragm function in the cat revealed by transneuronal tracing

The integrated brain network that controls respiration

Respiration is a brain function on which our lives essentially depend. Control of respiration ensures that the frequency and depth of breathing adapt continuously to metabolic needs. In addition, the respiratory control network of the brain has to organize muscular synergies that integrate ventilation with posture and body movement. Finally, respiration is coupled to cardiovascular function and emotion. Here, we argue that the brain can handle this all by integrating a brainstem central pattern generator circuit in a larger network that also comprises the cerebellum. Although currently not generally recognized as a respiratory control center, the cerebellum is well known for its coordinating and modulating role in motor behavior, as well as for its role in the autonomic nervous system. In this review, we discuss the role of brain regions involved in the control of respiration, and their anatomical and functional interactions. We discuss how sensory feedback can result in adaptation of respiration, and how these mechanisms can be compromised by various neurological and psychological disorders. Finally, we demonstrate how the respiratory pattern generators are part of a larger and integrated network of respiratory brain regions.

Deglutition and the Regulation of the Swallow Motor Pattern

Despite centuries of investigation, questions and controversies remain regarding the fundamental genesis and motor pattern of swallow. Two significant topics include inspiratory muscle activity during swallow (Schluckatmung, i.e., "swallow-breath") and anatomical boundaries of the swallow pattern generator. We discuss the long history of reports regarding the presence or absence of Schluckatmung and the possible advantages of and neural basis for such activity, leading to current theories and novel experimental directions.

The human brain in a high altitude natural environment: A review

With the advancement of in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique, more detailed information about the human brain at high altitude (HA) has been revealed. The present review aimed to draw a conclusion regarding changes in the human brain in both unacclimatized and acclimatized states in a natural HA environment. Using multiple advanced analysis methods that based on MRI as well as electroencephalography, the modulations of brain gray and white matter morphology and the electrophysiological mechanisms underlying processing of cognitive activity have been explored in certain extent. The visual, motor and insular cortices are brain regions seen to be consistently affected in both HA immigrants and natives. Current findings regarding cortical electrophysiological and blood dynamic signals may be related to cardiovascular and respiratory regulations, and may clarify the mechanisms underlying some behaviors at HA. In general, in the past 10 years, researches on the brain at HA have gone beyond cognitive tests. Due to the sample size is not large enough, the current findings in HA brain are not very reliable, and thus much more researches are needed. Moreover, the histological and genetic bases of brain structures at HA are also needed to be elucidated.

The connectome from the cerebral cortex to the viscera using viral transneuronal tracers

As an emerging framework in neuroscience, brain connectomics is well suited for investigating key questions on brain complexity by combining viral transneuronal tracing and whole brain graphic methodologies using analytical tools of network science. Transsynaptic viral tract-tracing in the toolbox of neural labeling methods has been a significant development in the connectomics field to decipher the circuit-level architecture of the cerebral cortex. In the present work, we reviewed the current methods enabling structural connectivity from the viscera to the cerebral cortex mapping with viral transneuronal tracers and showed how such neuroanatomic connectomic data could be used to infer new structural and functional information in viscera-cerebral cortex circuits.

Neuropathological and Motor Impairments after Incomplete Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in Pigs

Humans, primates, and rodents with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) show permanent sensorimotor dysfunction of the upper/forelimb as consequence of axonal damage and local neuronal death. This work aimed at characterizing a model of cervical SCI in domestic pigs in which hemisection with excision of 1 cm of spinal cord was performed to reproduce the loss of neural tissue observed in human neuropathology. Posture and motor control were assessed over 3 months by scales and kinematics of treadmill locomotion. Histological measurements included lesion length, atrophy of the adjacent spinal cord segments, and neuronal death. In some animals, the retrograde neural tracer aminostilbamidine was injected in segments caudal to the lesion to visualize propriospinal projection neurons. Neuronal loss extended for 4-6 mm from the lesion borders and was more severe in the ipsilateral, caudal spinal cord stump. Axonal Wallerian degeneration was observed caudally and rostrally, associated with marked atrophy of the white matter in the spinal cord segments adjacent to the lesion. The pigs showed chronic monoplegia or severe monoparesis of the foreleg ipsilateral to the lesion, whereas the trunk and the other legs had postural and motor impairments that substantially improved during the first month post-lesion. Adaptations of the walking cycle such as those reported for rats and humans ameliorated the negative impact of focal neurological deficits on locomotor performance. These results provide a baseline of behavior and histology in a porcine model of cervical spinal cord hemisection that can be used for translational research in SCI therapeutics.

Intermittent hypoxia and respiratory recovery in pre-clinical rodent models of incomplete cervical spinal cord injury

Impaired respiratory function is a common and devastating consequence of cervical spinal cord injury. Accordingly, the development of safe and effective treatments to restore breathing function is critical. Acute intermittent hypoxia has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy to treat respiratory insufficiency in individuals with spinal cord injury. Since the original report by Bach and Mitchell (1996) concerning long-term facilitation of phrenic motor output elicited by brief, episodic exposure to reduced oxygen, a series of studies in animal models have led to the realization that acute intermittent hypoxia may have tremendous potential for inducing neuroplasticity and functional recovery in the injured spinal cord. Advances in our understanding of the neurobiology of acute intermittent hypoxia have prompted us to begin to explore its effects in human clinical studies. Here, we review the basic neurobiology of the control of breathing and the pathophysiology and respiratory consequences of two common experimental models of incomplete cervical spinal cord injury (i.e., high cervical hemisection and mid-cervical contusion). We then discuss the impact of acute intermittent hypoxia on respiratory motor function in these models: work that has laid the foundation for translation of this promising therapeutic strategy to clinical populations. Lastly, we examine the limitations of these animal models and intermittent hypoxia and discuss how future work in animal models may further advance the translation and therapeutic efficacy of this treatment.

Evidence of intermediate reticular formation involvement in swallow pattern generation, recorded optically in the neonate rat sagittally sectioned hindbrain

Swallow is a primitive behavior regulated by medullary networks, responsible for movement of food/liquid from the oral cavity to the esophagus. To investigate how functionally heterogeneous networks along the medullary intermediate reticular formation (IRt) and ventral respiratory column (VRC) control swallow, we electrically stimulated the nucleus tractus solitarius to induce fictive swallow between inspiratory bursts, with concurrent optical recordings using a synthetic Ca²⁺ indicator in the neonatal sagittally sectioned rat hindbrain (SSRH) preparation. Simultaneous recordings from hypoglossal nerve rootlet (XIIn) and ventral cervical spinal root C1-C2 enabled identification of the system-level correlates of 1) swallow (identified as activation of the XIIn but not the cervical root) and 2) Breuer-Hering expiratory reflex (BHE; lengthened expiration in response to stimuli during expiration). Optical recording revealed reconfiguration of respiration-modulated networks in the ventrolateral medulla during swallow and the BHE reflex. Recordings identified novel spatially compact networks in the IRt near the facial nucleus (VIIn) that were active during fictive swallow, suggesting that the swallow network is not restricted to the caudal medulla. These findings also establish the utility of using this in vitro preparation to investigate how functionally heterogeneous medullary networks interact and reconfigure to enable a repertoire of orofacial behaviors.NEW & NOTEWORTHY For the first time, medullary networks that control breathing and swallow are recorded optically. Episodic swallows are induced via electrical stimulation along the dorsal medulla, in and near the NTS, during spontaneously occurring fictive respiration. These findings establish that networks regulating both orofacial behaviors and breathing are accessible for optical recording at the surface of the sagittally sectioned rodent hindbrain preparation.

Modular output circuits of the fastigial nucleus for diverse motor and nonmotor functions of the cerebellar vermis

The cerebellar vermis, long associated with axial motor control, has been implicated in a surprising range of neuropsychiatric disorders and cognitive and affective functions. Remarkably little is known, however, about the specific cell types and neural circuits responsible for these diverse functions. Here, using single-cell gene expression profiling and anatomical circuit analyses of vermis output neurons in the mouse fastigial (medial cerebellar) nucleus, we identify five major classes of glutamatergic projection neurons distinguished by gene expression, morphology, distribution, and input-output connectivity. Each fastigial cell type is connected with a specific set of Purkinje cells and inferior olive neurons and in turn innervates a distinct collection of downstream targets. Transsynaptic tracing indicates extensive disynaptic links with cognitive, affective, and motor forebrain circuits. These results indicate that diverse cerebellar vermis functions could be mediated by modular synaptic connections of distinct fastigial cell types with posturomotor, oromotor, positional-autonomic, orienting, and vigilance circuits.

Spinal cord injury and diaphragm neuromotor control

Introduction: Neuromotor control of diaphragm muscle and the recovery of diaphragm activity following spinal cord injury have been narrowly focused on ventilation. By contrast, the understanding of neuromotor control for non-ventilatory expulsive/straining maneuvers (including coughing, defecation, and parturition) is relatively impoverished. This variety of behaviors are achieved via the recruitment of the diverse array of motor units that comprise the diaphragm muscle.Areas covered: The neuromotor control of ventilatory and non-ventilatory behaviors in health and in the context of spinal cord injury is explored. Particular attention is played to the neuroplasticity of phrenic motor neurons in various models of cervical spinal cord injury.Expert opinion: There is a remarkable paucity in our understanding of neuromotor control of maneuvers in spinal cord injury patients. Dysfunction of these expulsive/straining maneuvers reduces patient quality of life and contributes to severe morbidity and mortality. As spinal cord injury patient life expectancies continue to climb steadily, a nexus of spinal cord injury and age-associated comorbidities are likely to occur. While current research remains concerned only with the minutiae of ventilation, the major functional deficits of this clinical cohort will persist intractably. We posit some future research directions to avoid this scenario.

Targeted activation of spinal respiratory neural circuits

Spinal interneurons which discharge in phase with the respiratory cycle have been repeatedly described over the last 50 years. These spinal respiratory interneurons are part of a complex propriospinal network that is synaptically coupled with respiratory motoneurons. This article summarizes current knowledge regarding spinal respiratory interneurons and emphasizes chemical, electrical and physiological methods for activating spinal respiratory neural circuits. Collectively, the work reviewed here shows that activating spinal interneurons can have a powerful impact on spinal respiratory motor output, and can even drive rhythmic bursting in respiratory motoneuron pools under certain conditions. We propose that the primary functions of spinal respiratory neurons include 1) shaping the respiratory pattern into the final efferent motor output from the spinal respiratory nerves; 2) coordinating respiratory muscle activation across the spinal neuraxis; 3) coordinating postural, locomotor and respiratory movements, and 4) enabling plasticity of respiratory motor output in health and disease.

Modulation of Respiratory System by Limb Muscle Afferents in Intact and Injured Spinal Cord

Breathing constantly adapts to environmental, metabolic or behavioral changes by responding to different sensory information, including afferent feedback from muscles. Importantly, not just respiratory muscle feedback influences respiratory activity. Afferent sensory information from rhythmically moving limbs has also been shown to play an essential role in the breathing. The present review will discuss the neuronal mechanisms of respiratory modulation by activation of peripheral muscles that usually occurs during locomotion or exercise. An understanding of these mechanisms and finding the most effective approaches to regulate respiratory motor output by stimulation of limb muscles could be extremely beneficial for people with respiratory dysfunctions. Specific attention in the present review is given to the muscle stimulation to treat respiratory deficits following cervical spinal cord injury.

Evolution and Functional Differentiation of the Diaphragm Muscle of Mammals

Symmorphosis is a concept of economy of biological design, whereby structural properties are matched to functional demands. According to symmorphosis, biological structures are never over designed to exceed functional demands. Based on this concept, the evolution of the diaphragm muscle (DIAm) in mammals is a tale of two structures, a membrane that separates and partitions the primitive coelomic cavity into separate abdominal and thoracic cavities and a muscle that serves as a pump to generate intra-abdominal (Pab ) and intrathoracic (Pth ) pressures. The DIAm partition evolved in reptiles from folds of the pleural and peritoneal membranes that was driven by the biological advantage of separating organs in the larger coelomic cavity into separate thoracic and abdominal cavities, especially with the evolution of aspiration breathing. The DIAm pump evolved from the advantage afforded by more effective generation of both a negative Pth for ventilation of the lungs and a positive Pab for venous return of blood to the heart and expulsive behaviors such as airway clearance, defecation, micturition, and child birth. © 2019 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 9:715-766, 2019.

The Neuroplastic and Therapeutic Potential of Spinal Interneurons in the Injured Spinal Cord

The central nervous system is not a static, hard-wired organ. Examples of neuroplasticity, whether at the level of the synapse, the cell, or within and between circuits, can be found during development, throughout the progression of disease, or after injury. One essential component of the molecular, anatomical, and functional changes associated with neuroplasticity is the spinal interneuron (SpIN). Here, we draw on recent multidisciplinary studies to identify and interrogate subsets of SpINs and their roles in locomotor and respiratory circuits. We highlight some of the recent progress that elucidates the importance of SpINs in circuits affected by spinal cord injury (SCI), especially those within respiratory networks; we also discuss potential ways that spinal neuroplasticity can be therapeutically harnessed for recovery.

Breathing: Motor Control of Diaphragm Muscle

Breathing occurs without thought but is controlled by a complex neural network with a final output of phrenic motor neurons activating diaphragm muscle fibers (i.e., motor units). This review considers diaphragm motor unit organization and how they are controlled during breathing as well as during expulsive behaviors.

Phrenic motoneurons: output elements of a highly organized intraspinal network

pontomedullary respiratory network generates the respiratory pattern and relays it to bulbar and spinal respiratory motor outputs. The phrenic motor system controlling diaphragm contraction receives and processes descending commands to produce orderly, synchronous, and cycle-to-cycle-reproducible spatiotemporal firing. Multiple investigators have studied phrenic motoneurons (PhMNs) in an attempt to shed light on local mechanisms underlying phrenic pattern formation. I and colleagues (Marchenko V, Ghali MG, Rogers RF. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 308: R916–R926, 2015.) recorded PhMNs in unanesthetized, decerebrate rats and related their activity to simultaneous phrenic nerve (PhN) activity by creating a time-frequency representation of PhMN-PhN power and coherence. On the basis of their temporal firing patterns and relationship to PhN activity, we categorized PhMNs into three classes, each of which emerges as a result of intrinsic biophysical and network properties and organizes the orderly contraction of diaphragm motor fibers. For example, early inspiratory diaphragmatic activation by the early coherent burst generated by high-frequency PhMNs may be necessary to prime it to overcome its initial inertia. We have also demonstrated the existence of a prominent role for local intraspinal inhibitory mechanisms in shaping phrenic pattern formation. The objective of this review is to relate and synthesize recent findings with those of previous studies with the aim of demonstrating that the phrenic nucleus is a region of active local processing, rather than a passive relay of descending inputs.

Intraspinal microstimulation for respiratory muscle activation

A complex propriospinal network is synaptically coupled to phrenic and intercostal motoneurons, and this makes it difficult to predict how gray matter intraspinal microstimulation (ISMS) will recruit respiratory motor units. We therefore mapped the cervical and high thoracic gray matter at locations which ISMS activates diaphragm (DIA) and external intercostal (EIC) motor units. Respiratory muscle electromyography (EMG) was recorded in anesthetized female spinally intact adult rats while a stimulating electrode was advanced ventrally into the spinal cord in 600μm increments. At each depth, single biphasic stimuli were delivered at 10-90μA during both the inspiratory and expiratory phase independently. Twenty electrode tracks were made from C2-T1 at medial and lateral gray matter locations. During inspiration, ISMS evoked DIA and EIC activity throughout C2-T1 gray matter locations, with mutual activation occurring at 17±9% of sites. During inspiratory phase ISMS the average latency for DIA activation was 4.40±0.70ms. During the expiratory phase, ISMS-induced DIA activation required electrodes to be in close proximity to the phrenic motoneuron pool, and average activation latency was 3.30±0.50ms. We conclude that appropriately targeted ISMS can co-activate DIA and EIC motor units, and endogenous respiratory drive has a powerful impact on ISMS-induced respiratory motor unit activation. The long latency diaphragm motor unit activation suggests the presence of a complex propriospinal network that can modulate phrenic motor output.

A Latent Propriospinal Network Can Restore Diaphragm Function after High Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) above cervical level 4 disrupts descending axons from the medulla that innervate phrenic motor neurons, causing permanent paralysis of the diaphragm. Using an ex vivo preparation in neonatal mice, we have identified an excitatory spinal network that can direct phrenic motor bursting in the absence of medullary input. After complete cervical SCI, blockade of fast inhibitory synaptic transmission caused spontaneous, bilaterally coordinated phrenic bursting. Here, spinal cord glutamatergic neurons were both sufficient and necessary for the induction of phrenic bursts. Direct stimulation of phrenic motor neurons was insufficient to evoke burst activity. Transection and pharmacological manipulations showed that this spinal network acts independently of medullary circuits that normally generate inspiration, suggesting a distinct non-respiratory function. We further show that this "latent" network can be harnessed to restore diaphragm function after high cervical SCI in adult mice and rats.

Intermittent Hypoxia Enhances Functional Connectivity of Midcervical Spinal Interneurons

Brief, intermittent oxygen reductions [acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH)] evokes spinal plasticity. Models of AIH-induced neuroplasticity have focused on motoneurons; however, most midcervical interneurons (C-INs) also respond to hypoxia. We hypothesized that AIH would alter the functional connectivity between C-INs and induce persistent changes in discharge. Bilateral phrenic nerve activity was recorded in anesthetized and ventilated adult male rats and a multielectrode array was used to record C4/5 spinal discharge before [baseline (BL)], during, and 15 min after three 5 min hypoxic episodes (11% O₂, H1-H3). Most C-INs (94%) responded to hypoxia by either increasing or decreasing firing rate. Functional connectivity was examined by cross-correlating C-IN discharge. Correlograms with a peak or trough were taken as evidence for excitatory or inhibitory connectivity between C-IN pairs. A subset of C-IN pairs had increased excitatory cross-correlations during hypoxic episodes (34%) compared with BL (19%; p < 0.0001). Another subset had a similar response following each episode (40%) compared with BL (19%; p < 0.0001). In the latter group, connectivity remained elevated 15 min post-AIH (30%; p = 0.0002). Inhibitory C-IN connectivity increased during H1-H3 (4.5%; p = 0.0160), but was reduced 15 min post-AIH (0.5%; p = 0.0439). Spike-triggered averaging indicated that a subset of C-INs is synaptically coupled to phrenic motoneurons and excitatory inputs to these "pre-phrenic" cells increased during AIH. We conclude that AIH alters connectivity of the midcervical spinal network. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that AIH induces plasticity within the propriospinal network.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) can trigger spinal plasticity associated with sustained increases in respiratory, somatic, and/or autonomic motor output. The impact of AIH on cervical spinal interneuron (C-IN) discharge and connectivity is unknown. Our results demonstrate that AIH recruits excitatory C-INs into the spinal respiratory (phrenic) network. AIH also enhances excitatory and reduces inhibitory connections among the C-IN network. We conclude that C-INs are part of the respiratory, somatic, and/or autonomic response to AIH, and that propriospinal plasticity may contribute to sustained increases in motor output after AIH.

Alteration of Spontaneous Brain Activity After Hypoxia-Reoxygenation: A Resting-State fMRI Study

Zhang, Jiaxing, Ji Chen, Cunxiu Fan, Jinqiang Li, Jianzhong Lin, Tianhe Yang, and Ming Fan. Alteration of spontaneous brain activity after hypoxia-reoxygenation: A resting-state fMRI study. High Alt Med Biol. 18:20-26, 2017.-The present study was designed to investigate the effect of hypoxia-reoxygenation on the spontaneous neuronal activity in brain. Sixteen sea-level (SL) soldiers (20.5 ± 0.7 years), who garrisoned the frontiers in high altitude (HA) (2300-4400 m) for two years and subsequently descended to sea level for one to seven days, were recruited. Control group consisted of 16 matched SL natives. The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) of regional brain functional magnetic resonance imaging signal in resting state and functional connectivity (FC) between brain regions was analyzed. HA subjects showed significant increases of ALFF at several sites within the bilateral occipital cortices and significant decreases of ALFF in the right anterior insula and extending to the caudate, putamen, inferior frontal orbital cortex, temporal pole, and superior temporal gyrus; lower ALFF values in the right insula were positively correlated with low respiratory measurements. The right insula in HA subjects had increases of FC with the right superior temporal gyrus, postcentral gyrus, rolandic operculum, supramarginal gyrus, and inferior frontal triangular area. We thus demonstrated that hypoxia-reoxygenation had influence on the spontaneous neuronal activity in brain. The decrease of insular neuronal activity may be related to the reduction of ventilatory drive, while the increase of FC with insula may indicate a central compensation.

Coupling multielectrode array recordings with silver labeling of recording sites to study cervical spinal network connectivity

Midcervical spinal interneurons form a complex and diffuse network and may be involved in modulating phrenic motor output. The intent of the current work was to enable a better understanding of midcervical "network-level" connectivity by pairing the neurophysiological multielectrode array (MEA) data with histological verification of the recording locations. We first developed a method to deliver 100-nA currents to electroplate silver onto and subsequently deposit silver from electrode tips after obtaining midcervical (C3-C5) recordings using an MEA in anesthetized and ventilated adult rats. Spinal tissue was then fixed, harvested, and histologically processed to "develop" the deposited silver. Histological studies verified that the silver deposition method discretely labeled (50-μm resolution) spinal recording locations between laminae IV and X in cervical segments C3-C5. Using correlative techniques, we next tested the hypothesis that midcervical neuronal discharge patterns are temporally linked. Cross-correlation histograms produced few positive peaks (5.3%) in the range of 0-0.4 ms, but 21.4% of neuronal pairs had correlogram peaks with a lag of ≥0.6 ms. These results are consistent with synchronous discharge involving mono- and polysynaptic connections among midcervical neurons. We conclude that there is a high degree of synaptic connectivity in the midcervical spinal cord and that the silver-labeling method can reliably mark metal electrode recording sites and "map" interneuron populations, thereby providing a low-cost and effective tool for use in MEA experiments. We suggest that this method will be useful for further exploration of midcervical network connectivity.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We describe a method that reliably identifies the locations of multielectrode array (MEA) recording sites while preserving the surrounding tissue for immunohistochemistry. To our knowledge, this is the first cost-effective method to identify the anatomic locations of neuronal ensembles recorded with a MEA during acute preparations without the requirement of specialized array electrodes. In addition, evaluation of activity recorded from silver-labeled sites revealed a previously unappreciated degree of connectivity between midcervical interneurons.

Thalamic mediation of hypoxic respiratory depression in lambs

Immaturity of respiratory controllers in preterm infants dispose to recurrent apnea and oxygen deprivation. Accompanying reductions in brain oxygen tensions evoke respiratory depression, potentially exacerbating hypoxemia. Central respiratory depression during moderate hypoxia is revealed in the ventilatory decline following initial augmentation. This study determined whether the thalamic parafascicular nuclear (Pf) complex involved in adult nociception and sensorimotor regulation (Bentivoglio M, Balerecia G, Kruger L. Prog Brain Res 87: 53-80, 1991) also becomes a postnatal controller of hypoxic ventilatory decline. Respiratory responses to moderate isocapnic hypoxia were studied in conscious lambs. Hypoxic ventilatory decline was compared with peak augmentation. Pf and/or adjacent thalamic structures were destroyed by the neuron-specific toxin ibotenic acid (IB). IB lesions involving the thalamic Pf abolished hypoxic ventilatory decline. Lesions of adjacent thalamic nuclei that spared Pf and control injections of vehicle failed to blunt hypoxic respiratory depression. Our findings reveal that the thalamic Pf region is a critical controller of hypoxic ventilatory depression and thus a key target for exploring molecular concomitants of forebrain pathways regulating hypoxic ventilatory depression in early development.

Role of the retrotrapezoid nucleus/parafacial respiratory group in coughing and swallowing in guinea pigs

The retrotrapezoid/parafacial respiratory group (RTN/pFRG) located ventral to the facial nucleus plays a key role in regulating breathing, especially enhanced expiratory activity during hypercapnic conditions. To clarify the roles of the RTN/pFRG region in evoking coughing, during which reflexive enhanced expiration is produced, and in swallowing, during which the expiratory activity is consistently halted, we recorded extracellular activity from RTN/pFRG neurons during these fictive behaviors in decerebrate, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated guinea pigs. The activity of the majority of recorded respiratory neurons was changed in synchrony with coughing and swallowing. To further evaluate the contribution of RTN/pFRG neurons to these nonrespiratory behaviors, the motor output patterns during breathing, coughing, and swallowing were compared before and after brain stem transection at the caudal margin of RTN/pFRG region. In addition, the effects of transection at its rostral margin were also investigated to evaluate pontine contribution to these behaviors. During respiration, transection at the rostral margin attenuated the postinspiratory activity of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Meanwhile, the late expiratory activity of the abdominal nerve was abolished after caudal transection. The caudal transection also decreased the amplitude of the coughing-related abdominal nerve discharge but did not abolish the activity. Swallowing could be elicited even after the caudal end transection. These findings raise the prospect that the RTN/pFRG contributes to expiratory regulation during normal respiration, although this region is not an essential element of the neuronal networks involved in coughing and swallowing.

Midcervical neuronal discharge patterns during and following hypoxia

Anatomical evidence indicates that midcervical interneurons can be synaptically coupled with phrenic motoneurons. Accordingly, we hypothesized that interneurons in the C3-C4 spinal cord can display discharge patterns temporally linked with inspiratory phrenic motor output. Anesthetized adult rats were studied before, during, and after a 4-min bout of moderate hypoxia. Neuronal discharge in C3-C4 lamina I-IX was monitored using a multielectrode array while phrenic nerve activity was extracellularly recorded. For the majority of cells, spike-triggered averaging (STA) of ipsilateral inspiratory phrenic nerve activity based on neuronal discharge provided no evidence of discharge synchrony. However, a distinct STA phrenic peak with a 6.83 ± 1.1 ms lag was present for 5% of neurons, a result that indicates a monosynaptic connection with phrenic motoneurons. The majority (93%) of neurons changed discharge rate during hypoxia, and the diverse responses included both increased and decreased firing. Hypoxia did not change the incidence of STA peaks in the phrenic nerve signal. Following hypoxia, 40% of neurons continued to discharge at rates above prehypoxia values (i.e., short-term potentiation, STP), and cells with initially low discharge rates were more likely to show STP (P < 0.001). We conclude that a population of nonphrenic C3-C4 neurons in the rat spinal cord is synaptically coupled to the phrenic motoneuron pool, and these cells can modulate inspiratory phrenic output. In addition, the C3-C4 propriospinal network shows a robust and complex pattern of activation both during and following an acute bout of hypoxia.

Integration of vestibular and emetic gastrointestinal signals that produce nausea and vomiting: potential contributions to motion sickness

Vomiting and nausea can be elicited by a variety of stimuli, although there is considerable evidence that the same brainstem areas mediate these responses despite the triggering mechanism. A variety of experimental approaches showed that nucleus tractus solitarius, the dorsolateral reticular formation of the caudal medulla (lateral tegmental field), and the parabrachial nucleus play key roles in integrating signals that trigger nausea and vomiting. These brainstem areas presumably coordinate the contractions of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles that result in vomiting. However, it is unclear whether these regions also mediate the autonomic responses that precede and accompany vomiting, including alterations in gastrointestinal activity, sweating, and changes in blood flow to the skin. Recent studies showed that delivery of an emetic compound to the gastrointestinal system affects the processing of vestibular inputs in the lateral tegmental field and parabrachial nucleus, potentially altering susceptibility for vestibular-elicited vomiting. Findings from these studies suggested that multiple emetic inputs converge on the same brainstem neurons, such that delivery of one emetic stimulus affects the processing of another emetic signal. Despite the advances in understanding the neurobiology of nausea and vomiting, much is left to be learned. Additional neurophysiologic studies, particularly those conducted in conscious animals, will be crucial to discern the integrative processes in the brain stem that result in emesis.

Identification of neural networks that contribute to motion sickness through principal components analysis of fos labeling induced by galvanic vestibular stimulation

Motion sickness is a complex condition that includes both overt signs (e.g., vomiting) and more covert symptoms (e.g., anxiety and foreboding). The neural pathways that mediate these signs and symptoms are yet to identified. This study mapped the distribution of c-fos protein (Fos)-like immunoreactivity elicited during a galvanic vestibular stimulation paradigm that is known to induce motion sickness in felines. A principal components analysis was used to identify networks of neurons activated during this stimulus paradigm from functional correlations between Fos labeling in different nuclei. This analysis identified five principal components (neural networks) that accounted for greater than 95% of the variance in Fos labeling. Two of the components were correlated with the severity of motion sickness symptoms, and likely participated in generating the overt signs of the condition. One of these networks included neurons in locus coeruleus, medial, inferior and lateral vestibular nuclei, lateral nucleus tractus solitarius, medial parabrachial nucleus and periaqueductal gray. The second included neurons in the superior vestibular nucleus, precerebellar nuclei, periaqueductal gray, and parabrachial nuclei, with weaker associations of raphe nuclei. Three additional components (networks) were also identified that were not correlated with the severity of motion sickness symptoms. These networks likely mediated the covert aspects of motion sickness, such as affective components. The identification of five statistically independent component networks associated with the development of motion sickness provides an opportunity to consider, in network activation dimensions, the complex progression of signs and symptoms that are precipitated in provocative environments. Similar methodology can be used to parse the neural networks that mediate other complex responses to environmental stimuli.

Activation of inspiratory muscles via spinal cord stimulation

Diaphragm pacing is a clinically useful modality providing artificial ventilatory support in patients with ventilator dependent spinal cord injury. Since this technique is successful in providing full-time ventilatory support in only ~50% of patients, better methods are needed. In this paper, we review a novel method of inspiratory muscle activation involving the application of electrical stimulation applied to the ventral surface of the upper thoracic spinal cord at high stimulus frequencies (300 Hz). In an animal model, high frequency spinal cord stimulation (HF-SCS) results in synchronous activation of both the diaphragm and inspiratory intercostal muscles. Since this method results in an asynchronous pattern of EMG activity and mean peak firing frequencies similar to those observed during spontaneous breathing, HF-SCS is a more physiologic form of inspiratory muscle activation. Further, ventilation can be maintained on a long-term basis with repetitive stimulation at low stimulus amplitudes (<1 mA). These preliminary results suggest that HF-SCS holds promise as a more successful method of inspiratory muscle pacing.

Why can't rodents vomit? A comparative behavioral, anatomical, and physiological study

The vomiting (emetic) reflex is documented in numerous mammalian species, including primates and carnivores, yet laboratory rats and mice appear to lack this response. It is unclear whether these rodents do not vomit because of anatomical constraints (e.g., a relatively long abdominal esophagus) or lack of key neural circuits. Moreover, it is unknown whether laboratory rodents are representative of Rodentia with regards to this reflex. Here we conducted behavioral testing of members of all three major groups of Rodentia; mouse-related (rat, mouse, vole, beaver), Ctenohystrica (guinea pig, nutria), and squirrel-related (mountain beaver) species. Prototypical emetic agents, apomorphine (sc), veratrine (sc), and copper sulfate (ig), failed to produce either retching or vomiting in these species (although other behavioral effects, e.g., locomotion, were noted). These rodents also had anatomical constraints, which could limit the efficiency of vomiting should it be attempted, including reduced muscularity of the diaphragm and stomach geometry that is not well structured for moving contents towards the esophagus compared to species that can vomit (cat, ferret, and musk shrew). Lastly, an in situ brainstem preparation was used to make sensitive measures of mouth, esophagus, and shoulder muscular movements, and phrenic nerve activity–key features of emetic episodes. Laboratory mice and rats failed to display any of the common coordinated actions of these indices after typical emetic stimulation (resiniferatoxin and vagal afferent stimulation) compared to musk shrews. Overall the results suggest that the inability to vomit is a general property of Rodentia and that an absent brainstem neurological component is the most likely cause. The implications of these findings for the utility of rodents as models in the area of emesis research are discussed.

Spinal pathways mediating phrenic activation during high frequency spinal cord stimulation

High frequency spinal cord stimulation (HF-SCS) is a method of inspiratory muscle activation resulting in phrenic motoneuron activation via stimulation of spinal cord pathways. The specific pathways mediating this response, however, are unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the potential role of upper cervical (C1-C4) pre-phrenic interneurons (UCI) and localize the pathways in the thoracic spinal cord mediating activation of phrenic motoneurons during HF-SCS. In 7 anesthetized, spinalized (C1 level) dogs, HF-SCS was applied at the T2 level. Diaphragm EMG, inspired volume and airway pressure generation were monitored before and following sequential spinal cord sections at the C4 and C8 levels. Section at the C4 level and dorsal columns at C8 resulted in no significant changes. However, lateral funiculi section (C8 level) resulted in significant reductions in each parameter. We conclude that during upper thoracic HF-SCS, the phrenic motoneuron pools are activated via spinal pathways located in the lateral funiculus but UCI are not involved.

Synchronized activation of sympathetic vasomotor, cardiac, and respiratory outputs by neurons in the midbrain colliculi

The superior and inferior colliculi are believed to generate immediate and highly coordinated defensive behavioral responses to threatening visual and auditory stimuli. Activation of neurons in the superior and inferior colliculi have been shown to evoke increases in cardiovascular and respiratory activity, which may be components of more generalized stereotyped behavioral responses. In this study, we examined the possibility that there are “command neurons” within the colliculi that can simultaneously drive sympathetic and respiratory outputs. In anesthetized rats, microinjections of bicuculline (a GABAA receptor antagonist) into sites within a circumscribed region in the deep layers of the superior colliculus and in the central and external nuclei of the inferior colliculus evoked a response characterized by intense and highly synchronized bursts of renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and phrenic nerve activity (PNA). Each burst of RSNA had a duration of ∼300–400 ms and occurred slightly later (peak to peak latency of 41 ± 8 ms) than the corresponding burst of PNA. The bursts of RSNA and PNA were also accompanied by transient increases in arterial pressure and, in most cases, heart rate. Synchronized bursts of RSNA and PNA were also evoked after neuromuscular blockade, artificial ventilation, and vagotomy and so were not dependent on afferent feedback from the lungs. We propose that the synchronized sympathetic-respiratory responses are driven by a common population of neurons, which may normally be activated by an acute threatening stimulus.

Central chemoreceptor modulation of breathing via multipath tuning in medullary ventrolateral respiratory column circuits

Ventrolateral respiratory column (VRC) circuits that modulate breathing in response to changes in central chemoreceptor drive are incompletely understood. We employed multielectrode arrays and spike train correlation methods to test predictions of the hypothesis that pre-Bötzinger complex (pre-BötC) and retrotrapezoid nucleus/parafacial (RTN-pF) circuits cooperate in chemoreceptor-evoked tuning of ventral respiratory group (VRG) inspiratory neurons. Central chemoreceptors were selectively stimulated by injections of CO(2)-saturated saline into the vertebral artery in seven decerebrate, vagotomized, neuromuscularly blocked, and artificially ventilated cats. Among sampled neurons in the Bötzinger complex (BötC)-to-VRG region, 70% (161 of 231) had a significant change in firing rate after chemoreceptor stimulation, as did 70% (101 of 144) of the RTN-pF neurons. Other responsive neurons (24 BötC-VRG; 11 RTN-pF) had a change in the depth of respiratory modulation without a significant change in average firing rate. Seventy BötC-VRG chemoresponsive neurons triggered 189 offset-feature correlograms (96 peaks; 93 troughs) with at least one responsive BötC-VRG cell. Functional input from at least one RTN-pF cell could be inferred for 45 BötC-VRG neurons (19%). Eleven RTN-pF cells were correlated with more than one BötC-VRG target neuron, providing evidence for divergent connectivity. Thirty-seven RTN-pF neurons, 24 of which were chemoresponsive, were correlated with at least one chemoresponsive BötC-VRG neuron. Correlation linkage maps and spike-triggered averages of phrenic nerve signals suggest transmission of chemoreceptor drive via a multipath network architecture: RTN-pF modulation of pre-BötC-VRG rostral-to-caudal excitatory inspiratory neuron chains is tuned by feedforward and recurrent inhibition from other inspiratory neurons and from "tonic" expiratory neurons.

Rabies virus as a research tool and viral vaccine vector

Until recently, single-stranded negative sense RNA viruses (ssNSVs) were one of only a few important human viral pathogens, which could not be created from cDNA. The inability to manipulate their genomes hindered their detailed genetic analysis. A key paper from Conzelmann's laboratory in 1994 changed this with the publication of a method to recover rabies virus (RABV) from cDNA. This discovery not only dramatically changed the broader field of ssNSV biology but also opened a whole new avenue for studying RABV pathogenicity, developing novel RABV vaccines as well a new generation of RABV-based vaccine vectors, and creating research tools important in neuroscience such as neuronal tracing.

Responses of neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla to whole body rotations: comparisons in decerebrate and conscious cats

The responses to vestibular stimulation of brain stem neurons that regulate sympathetic outflow and blood flow have been studied extensively in decerebrate preparations, but not in conscious animals. In the present study, we compared the responses of neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), a principal region of the brain stem involved in the regulation of blood pressure, to whole body rotations of conscious and decerebrate cats. In both preparations, RVLM neurons exhibited similar levels of spontaneous activity (median of ∼17 spikes/s). The firing of about half of the RVLM neurons recorded in decerebrate cats was modulated by rotations; these cells were activated by vertical tilts in a variety of directions, with response characteristics suggesting that their labyrinthine inputs originated in otolith organs. The activity of over one-third of RVLM neurons in decerebrate animals was altered by stimulation of baroreceptors; RVLM units with and without baroreceptor signals had similar responses to rotations. In contrast, only 6% of RVLM neurons studied in conscious cats exhibited cardiac-related activity, and the firing of just 1% of the cells was modulated by rotations. These data suggest that the brain stem circuitry mediating vestibulosympathetic reflexes is highly sensitive to changes in body position in space but that the responses to vestibular stimuli of neurons in the pathway are suppressed by higher brain centers in conscious animals. The findings also raise the possibility that autonomic responses to a variety of inputs, including those from the inner ear, could be gated according to behavioral context and attenuated when they are not necessary.

Neural control of phrenic motoneuron discharge

Phrenic motoneurons (PMNs) provide a synaptic relay between bulbospinal respiratory pathways and the diaphragm muscle. PMNs also receive propriospinal inputs, although the functional role of these interneuronal projections has not been established. Here we review the literature regarding PMN discharge patterns during breathing and the potential mechanisms that underlie PMN recruitment. Anatomical and neurophysiological studies indicate that PMNs form a heterogeneous pool, with respiratory-related PMN discharge and recruitment patterns likely determined by a balance between intrinsic MN properties and extrinsic synaptic inputs. We also review the limited literature regarding PMN bursting during respiratory plasticity. Differential recruitment or rate modulation of PMN subtypes may underlie phrenic motor plasticity following neural injury and/or respiratory stimulation; however, this possibility remains relatively unexplored.

Role of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) in the patterning of vestibular system influences on sympathetic nervous system outflow to the upper and lower body

Research on animal models as well as human subjects has demonstrated that the vestibular system contributes to regulating the distribution of blood in the body through effects on the sympathetic nervous system. Elimination of vestibular inputs results in increased blood flow to the hindlimbs during vestibular stimulation, because it attenuates the increase in vascular resistance that ordinarily occurs in the lower body during head-up tilts. Additionally, the changes in vascular resistance produced by vestibular stimulation differ between body regions. Electrical stimulation of vestibular afferents produces an inhibition of most hindlimb vasoconstrictor fibers and a decrease in hindlimb vascular resistance, but an initial excitation of most upper body vasoconstrictor fibers accompanied by an increase in upper body vascular resistance. The present study tested the hypothesis that neurons in the principal vasomotor region of the brainstem, the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), whose projections extended past the T10 segment, to spinal levels containing sympathetic preganglionic neurons regulating lower body blood flow, respond differently to electrical stimulation of the vestibular nerve than RVLM neurons whose axons terminate rostral to T10. Contrary to our hypothesis, the majority of RVLM neurons were excited by vestibular stimulation, despite their level of projection in the spinal cord. These findings indicate that the RVLM is not solely responsible for establishing the patterning of vestibular-sympathetic responses. This patterning apparently requires the integration by spinal circuitry of labyrinthine signals transmitted from the brainstem, likely from regions in addition to the RVLM.

Voluntary and involuntary ventilation do not alter the human inspiratory muscle loading reflex

The reflex mechanism of the short-latency inhibitory reflex to transient loading of human inspiratory muscles is unresolved. Muscle afferents mediate this reflex, but they may act via pontomedullary inspiratory centers, other bulbar networks, or spinal circuits. We hypothesized that altered chemical drive to breathe would alter the initial inhibitory reflex if the neural pathways involve inspiratory medullary centers. Inspiration was transiently loaded in 11 subjects during spontaneous hypercapnic hyperpnea and matched voluntary hyperventilation. Electromyographic activity was recorded bilaterally from scalene muscles with surface electrodes. The latencies of the initial inhibitory response (IR) onset (32 ± 0.7 and 38 ± 1 ms for spontaneous and voluntary conditions respectively, P < 0.001) and subsequent excitatory response (ER) onset (80 ± 2.9 and 78 ± 2.6 ms, respectively, P = 0.46) and the normalized sizes of IR (65 ± 2 and 67 ± 3%, respectively, P = 0.50) and ER (51 ± 8 and 69 ± 6%, respectively, P = 0.005) were measured. Mean end-tidal Pco2 was 43 ± 1.5 Torr with dead space ventilation and was 14 ± 0.6 Torr with matched voluntary hyperventilation ( P < 0.001). A mean minute volume >30 liters was achieved in both conditions. The absence of significant difference in the size of the IR suggested that the IR reflex arc does not transit the brain stem inspiratory centers and that the reflex may be integrated at a spinal level. In voluntary hyperventilation, an initial excitation occurred more frequently and, consequently, the IR onset latency was significantly longer. The size of the later ER was also greater during voluntary hyperventilation, which is consistent with it being mediated via longer, presumably cortical, pathways, which are influenced by voluntary drive.

Otolith stimulation induces c-Fos expression in vestibular and precerebellar nuclei in cats and squirrel monkeys

Vestibular information is critical for the control of balance, posture, and eye movements. Signals from the receptors, the semicircular canals and otoliths, are carried by the eighth nerve and distributed to the four nuclei of the vestibular nuclear complex, the VNC. However, anatomical and physiological data suggest that many additional brainstem nuclei are engaged in the processing of vestibular signals and generation of motor responses. To assess the role of these structures in vestibular functions, we have used the expression of the immediate early gene c-Fos as a marker for neurons activated by stimulation of the otoliths or the semicircular canals. Excitation of the otolith organs resulted in widespread c-Fos expression in the VNC, but also in other nuclei, including the external cuneate nucleus, the postpyramidal nucleus of the raphé, the nucleus prepositus hypoglossi, the subtrigeminal nucleus, the pontine nuclei, the dorsal tegmental nucleus, the locus coeruleus, and the reticular formation. Rotations that excited the semicircular canals were much less effective in inducing c-Fos expression. The large number of brainstem nuclei that showed c-Fos expression may reflect the multiple functions of the vestibular system. Some of these neurons may be involved in sensory processing of the vestibular signals, while others provide input to the vestibulo-ocular, vestibulocollic, and vestibulospinal reflexes or mediate changes in autonomic function. The data show that otolith stimulation engages brainstem structures both within and outside of the VNC, many of which project to the cerebellum.

Cortico-limbic circuitry and the airways: insights from functional neuroimaging of respiratory afferents and efferents

After nearly two decades of active research, functional neuroimaging has demonstrated utility in the identification of cortical, limbic, and paralimbic (cortico-limbic) brain regions involved in respiratory control and respiratory perception. Before the recent boon of human neuroimaging studies, the location of the principal components of respiratory-related cortico-limbic circuitry had been unknown and their function had been poorly understood. Emerging neuroimaging evidence in both healthy and patient populations suggests that cognitive and emotional/affective processing within cortico-limbic circuitry modulates respiratory control and respiratory perception. This paper will review functional neuroimaging studies of respiration with a focus on whole brain investigations of sensorimotor pathways that have identified respiratory-related neural circuitry known to overlap emotional/affective cortico-limbic circuitry. To aid the interpretation of present and future findings, the complexities and challenges underlying neuroimaging methodologies will also be reviewed as applied to the study of respiration physiology.

Mapping of neural pathways that influence diaphragm activity and project to the lumbar spinal cord in cats

During breathing, the diaphragm and abdominal muscles contract out of phase. However, during other behaviors (including vomiting, postural adjustments, and locomotion) simultaneous contractions are required of the diaphragm and other muscle groups including abdominal muscles. Recent studies in cats using transneuronal tracing techniques showed that in addition to neurons in the respiratory groups, cells in the inferior and lateral vestibular nuclei (VN) and medial pontomedullary reticular formation (MRF) influence diaphragm activity. The goal of the present study was to determine whether neurons in these regions have collateralized projections to both diaphragm motoneurons and the lumbar spinal cord. For this purpose, the transneuronal tracer rabies virus was injected into the diaphragm, and the monosynaptic retrograde tracer Fluoro-Gold (FG) was injected into the Th13-L1 spinal segments. A large fraction of MRF and VN neurons (median of 72 and 91%, respectively) that were infected by rabies virus were dual-labeled by FG. These data show that many MRF and VN neurons that influence diaphragm activity also have a projection to the lumbar spinal cord and thus likely are involved in coordinating behaviors that require synchronized contractions of the diaphragm and other muscle groups.

Distribution of hypothalamic neurons with orexin (hypocretin) or melanin concentrating hormone (MCH) immunoreactivity and multisynaptic connections with diaphragm motoneurons

Prior work showed that neurons in the lateral, dorsal, and perifornical regions of the tuberal and mammillary levels of the hypothalamus participate in the control of breathing. The same areas also contain large numbers of neurons that produce either orexins (hypocretins) or melanin concentrating hormone (MCH). These peptides have been implicated in regulating energy balance and physiological changes that occur in transitions between sleep and wakefulness, amongst other functions. The goal of this study was to determine if hypothalamic neurons involved in respiratory control, which were identified in cats by the retrograde transneuronal transport of rabies virus from the diaphragm, were immunopositive for either orexin-A or MCH. In animals with limited rabies infection of the hypothalamus (<10 infected cells/section), where the neurons with the most direct influences on diaphragm motoneurons were presumably labeled, a large fraction (28-75%) of the infected hypothalamic neurons contained orexin-A. In the same cases, 6-33% of rabies-infected hypothalamic cells contained MCH. However, in animals with more extensive infection, where rabies had presumably passed transneuronally through more synapses, the fraction of infected cells that contained orexin-A was lower. The findings from these experiments thus support the notion that hypothalamic influences on breathing are substantially mediated through orexins or MCH.

Spinal circuitry and respiratory recovery following spinal cord injury

Numerous studies have demonstrated anatomical and functional neuroplasticity following spinal cord injury. One of the more notable examples is return of ipsilateral phrenic motoneuron and diaphragm activity which can be induced under terminal neurophysiological conditions after high cervical hemisection in the rat. More recently it has been shown that a protracted, spontaneous recovery also occurs in this model. While a candidate neural substrate has been identified for the former, the neuroanatomical basis underlying spontaneous recovery has not been explored. Demonstrations of spinal respiratory interneurons in other species suggest such cells may play a role; however, the presence of interneurons in the adult rat phrenic circuit - the primary animal model of respiratory plasticity - has not been extensively investigated. Emerging neuroanatomical and electrophysiological results raise the possibility of a more complex neural network underlying spontaneous recovery of phrenic function and compensatory respiratory neuroplasticity after C2 hemisection than has been previously considered.

Phrenic motoneuron discharge patterns during hypoxia-induced short-term potentiation in rats

Hypoxia-induced short-term potentiation (STP) of respiratory motor output is manifested by a progressive increase in activity after the acute hypoxic response and a gradual decrease in activity on termination of hypoxia. We hypothesized that STP would be differentially expressed between physiologically defined phrenic motoneurons (PhrMNs). Phrenic nerve "single fiber" recordings were used to characterize PhrMN discharge in anesthetized, vagotomized and ventilated rats. PhrMNs were classified as early (Early-I) or late inspiratory (Late-I) according to burst onset relative to the contralateral phrenic neurogram during normocapnic baseline conditions. During hypoxia (F(I)O(2) = 0.12-0.14, 3 min), both Early-I and Late-I PhrMNs abruptly increased discharge frequency. Both cell types also showed a progressive increase in frequency over the remainder of hypoxia. However, Early-I PhrMNs showed reduced overall discharge duration and total spikes/breath during hypoxia, whereas Late-I PhrMNs maintained constant discharge duration and therefore increased the number of spikes/breath. A population of previously inactive (i.e., silent) PhrMNs was recruited 48 +/- 8 s after hypoxia onset. These PhrMNs had a Late-I onset, and the majority (8/9) ceased bursting promptly on termination of hypoxia. In contrast, both Early-I and Late-I PhrMNs showed post-hypoxia STP as reflected by greater discharge frequencies and spikes/breath during the post-hypoxic period (P < 0.01 vs. baseline). We conclude that the expression of phrenic STP during hypoxia reflects increased activity in previously active Early-I and Late-I PhrMNs and recruitment of silent PhrMNs. post-hypoxia STP primarily reflects persistent increases in the discharge of PhrMNs, which were active before hypoxia.

Modulation of spontaneous breathing via limbic/paralimbic-bulbar circuitry: an event-related fMRI study

It is well established that pacemaker neurons in the brainstem provide automatic control of breathing for metabolic homeostasis and survival. During waking spontaneous breathing, cognitive and emotional demands can modulate the intrinsic brainstem respiratory rhythm. However the neural circuitry mediating this modulation is unknown. Studies of supra-pontine influences on the control of breathing have implicated limbic/paralimbic-bulbar circuitry, but these studies have been limited to either invasive surgical electrophysiological methods or neuroimaging during substantial respiratory provocation. Here we probed the limbic/paralimbic-bulbar circuitry for respiratory-related neural activity during unlabored spontaneous breathing at rest as well as during a challenging cognitive task (sustained random number generation). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with simultaneous physiological monitoring (heart rate, respiratory rate, tidal volume, end-tidal CO(2)) was acquired in 14 healthy subjects during each condition. The cognitive task produced expected increases in breathing rate, while end-tidal CO(2) and heart rate did not significantly differ between conditions. The respiratory cycle served as the input function for breath-by-breath, event-related, voxel-wise, random-effects image analyses in SPM5. Main effects analyses (cognitive task+rest) demonstrated the first evidence of coordinated neural activity associated with spontaneous breathing within the medulla, pons, midbrain, amygdala, anterior cingulate and anterior insular cortices. Between-condition paired t-tests (cognitive task>rest) demonstrated modulation within this network localized to the dorsal anterior cingulate and pontine raphe magnus nucleus. We propose that the identified limbic/paralimbic-bulbar circuitry plays a significant role in cognitive and emotional modulation of spontaneous breathing.