Respiratory neural activities after caudal-to-rostral ablation of medullary regions

The purpose is to assess the importance of medullary mechanisms for the neurogenesis of eupnea. Cats that were used were decerebrate, cerebellectomized, vagotomized, paralyzed, and ventilated. Activities of the phrenic, facial, and mylohyoid nerves were monitored. Progressive caudal-to-rostral transections of the spinal cord and medulla were performed. Phrenic activity was eliminated by C1 spinal transections. Only modest changes in facial and mylohyoid activities resulted from transections as far rostral as the level of the dorsal respiratory nucleus. Rhythmic discharges ceased on transections at the pontomedullary junction. However, rhythmic mylohyoid discharges were maintained if protriptyline and strychnine were administered before and during the transection. In other studies rhythmic phrenic, facial, and mylohyoid discharges continued, albeit with an altered rhythm, after destruction of neurons in the dorsal respiratory nucleus by kainic acid. We conclude that caudal medullary mechanisms do not play an essential role in the neurogenesis of breathing movements. Rather, structures in rostral medulla and pons appear necessary for sustaining eupneic neural activities. The concept of multiple brain stem sites for ventilatory neurogenesis is discussed.