Dynamics of ventilatory response to step changes in PCO2 of blood perfusing the brain stem

The technique of artificial brain stem perfusion was used to assess the ventilatory response to step changes in PCO2 of the blood perfusing the brain stem of the cat. A two-channel roller pump and a four-way valve allow switching the gas exchanger into and out of the extracorporeal circuit, which controlled the perfusion to the brain stem. Seven alpha-chloralose-urethan-anesthetized cats were studied, and 25 steps of increasing and 23 steps of decreasing PCO2 were analyzed. A model consisting of a single-exponential function with time delay best described the ventilatory response. The time delays 11.7 +/- 8.1 and 6.4 +/- 6.8 (SD) s (obtained from mean values per cat) for the step into and out of hypercapnia, respectively, were not significantly different (P = 0.10) and were of the order of the transit time of the tubing from valve to brain stem. The steady-state CO2 sensitivities obtained from the on- and off-responses were also not significantly different (P = 0.10). The time constants 87 +/- 25 and 150 +/- 51 s, respectively, were significantly different (P = 0.0002). We conclude that the central chemoreflex is adequately modeled by a single component with a different time constant for on- and off-responses.     

Dynamic response of the peripheral chemoreflex loop to changes in end-tidal O2.

We studied the peripheral ventilatory response dynamics to changes in end-tidal O2 tension (PETO2) in 13 cats anesthetized with alpha-chloralose-urethan. The arterial O2 tension in the medulla oblongata was kept constant using the technique of artificial perfusion of the brain stem. At constant end-tidal CO2 tension, 72 ventilatory on-responses due to stepwise changes in PETO2 from hyperoxia (45-55 kPa) to hypoxia (4.7-9.0 kPa) and 62 ventilatory off-responses due to changes from hypoxia to hyperoxia were assessed. We fitted two exponential functions with the same time delay to the breath-by-breath ventilation and found a fast and a slow component in 85% of the ventilatory on-responses and in 76% of the off-responses. The time constant of the fast component of the ventilatory on-response was 1.6 +/- 1.5 (SD) s, and that of the off-response was 2.4 +/- 1.3 s; the gain of the on-response was smaller than that of the off-response (P = 0.020). For the slow component, the time constant of the on-response (72.6 +/- 36.4 s) was larger (P = 0.028) than that of the off-response (43.7 +/- 28.3 s), whereas the gain of the on-response exceeded that of the off-response (P = 0.031). We conclude that the ventilatory response of the peripheral chemoreflex loop to stepwise changes in PETO2 contains a fast and a slow component.     

Influence of pregnancy on ventilatory and carotid body neural output responsiveness to hypoxia in cats

Pregnancy increases ventilation and ventilatory sensitivity to hypoxia and hypercapnia. To determine the role of the carotid body in the increased hypoxic ventilatory response, we measured ventilation and carotid body neural output (CBNO) during progressive isocapnic hypoxia in 15 anesthetized near-term pregnant cats and 15 nonpregnant females. The pregnant compared with nonpregnant cats had greater room-air ventilation [1.48 +/- 0.24 vs. 0.45 +/- 0.05 (SE) l/min BTPS, P less than 0.01], O2 consumption (29 +/- 2 vs. 19 +/- 1 ml/min STPD, P less than 0.01), and lower end-tidal PCO2 (30 +/- 1 vs. 35 +/- 1 Torr, P less than 0.01). Lower end-tidal CO2 tensions were also observed in seven awake pregnant compared with seven awake nonpregnant cats (28 +/- 1 vs. 31 +/- 1 Torr, P less than 0.05). The ventilatory response to hypoxia as measured by the shape of parameter A was twofold greater (38 +/- 5 vs. 17 +/- 3, P less than 0.01) in the anesthetized pregnant compared with nonpregnant cats, and the CBNO response to hypoxia was also increased twofold (58 +/- 11 vs. 29 +/- 5, P less than 0.05). The increased CBNO response to hypoxia in the pregnant compared with the nonpregnant cats persisted after cutting the carotid sinus nerve while recording from the distal end, indicating that the increased hypoxic sensitivity was not due to descending central neural influences. We concluded that greater carotid body sensitivity to hypoxia contributed to the increased hypoxic ventilatory responsiveness observed in pregnant cats.     

Effects of haloperidol and domperidone on ventilatory roll off during sustained hypoxia in cats.

In a previous work, we showed that the adult cat demonstrates a ventilatory decline during sustained hypoxia (the "roll off" phenomenon) and that the mechanism responsible for this secondary decrease in ventilation lies within the central nervous system (J. Appl. Physiol. 63: 1658-1664, 1987). In this study, we sought to determine whether central dopaminergic mechanisms could have a role in the roll off. We studied the effects of haloperidol, a peripheral and centrally acting dopamine receptor antagonist, on the ventilatory response to sustained isocapnic hypoxia (end-tidal PO2 40-50 Torr, 20-25 min) in awake cats. In vehicle control cats (n = 5), sustained hypoxia elicited a biphasic respiratory response, during which an initial ventilatory stimulation is followed by a 24 +/- 6% (P less than 0.01) reduction. In contrast, in haloperidol- (0.1 mg/kg) treated cats (n = 5) the ventilatory roll off was virtually abolished (-1 +/- 1%; P = NS). We also measured ventilatory, carotid sinus nerve (CSN) and phrenic nerve (PhN) responses to sustained isocapnic hypoxia in anesthetized animals (n = 6) to explore the influence of haloperidol on peripheral and central response during the roll off. Control responses to hypoxia showed an initial increase in ventilation, PhN, and CSN activity, followed by a subsequent decline in ventilation and PhN activity of 17 +/- 3 and 17 +/- 5%, respectively (P less than 0.05). In contrast, CSN activity remained unchanged during the roll off. Administration of haloperidol (1 mg/kg) reduced the initial increment in ventilation, while the initial increase in CSN activity was augmented.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ventilatory response of intact cats to carbon monoxide hypoxia

Adult intact conscious or anesthetized cats have been exposed to either hypoxia or low concentrations of CO in air. In addition, the ventilatory response to CO2 was studied in air, hypoxic hypoxia, and CO hypoxia. The results show that 1) in conscious cats, low concentrations of CO (0.15%) induce a slight decrease in ventilation and higher concentrations of CO (0.20%) induce first a small decrease in ventilation and then a characteristic tachypnea similar to the hypoxic tachypnea described in carotid-denervated cats; 2) in anesthetized cats, CO hypoxia induces only mild changes in ventilation; and 3) the ventilatory response to CO2 is increased in CO hypoxia in both conscious and anesthetized animals but differs from the increase observed during hypoxia. It is concluded that the initial decrease in ventilation may be caused by some brain stem depression of the respiratory centers with CO hypoxia, whereas the tachypnea originates probably at some suprapontine level. Conversely, the possible central acidosis may account for the potentiation of the ventilatory response to CO2 observed in either conscious or anesthetized animals.     

Naloxone reduces ventilatory depression of brain hypoxia

To assess whether endogenous opioids participate in respiratory depression due to brain hypoxia, we determined the ventilatory response to progressive carboxyhemoglobinemia (1% CO, 40% O2) before and after administration of naloxone (NLX, 0.1 mg/kg iv). Minute ventilation (VI) and ventral medullary surface pH (Vm pH) were measured in six anesthetized, peripherally chemodenervated cats. NLX consistently increased base-line hyperoxic VI from 618 +/- 99 to 729 +/- 126 ml/min (P less than 0.05). Although NLX did not alter the Vm pH response to CO [initial alkalosis, Vm pH +0.011 +/- 0.003 pH units, followed by acidosis, Vm pH -0.082 +/- 0.036 at carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) 55%], NLX attenuated the amount of ventilatory depression; increasing HbCO to 55% decreased VI to 66 +/- 6% of base line before NLX and to 81 +/- 9% of base line after NLX (P less than 0.05). The difference in response after NLX was primarily the result of a linear increase in tidal volume (VT) with decreasing Vm pH (delta VT = 60.3 ml/-pH unit) which was absent before NLX. To assess whether the site of action of the endogenous opioid effect was the central chemosensors, the ventilatory and Vm pH response to progressive HbCO was determined in three additional cats before and after topical application of NLX (3 X 10(-4) M) to the ventral medullary surface. The effect of topical NLX was similar to systemic NLX; significant attenuation of the reduction in VI with increasing HbCO. We conclude that 1) endogenous opioids mediate a portion of the depression of ventilation due to acute brain hypoxia, and 2) this effect is probably at the central chemosensitive regions.     

Interindividual variation in hypoxic ventilatory response: potential role of carotid body

There is considerable interindividual variation in ventilatory response to hypoxia in humans but the mechanism remains unknown. To examine the potential contribution of variable peripheral chemorecptor function to variation in hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR), we compared the peripheral chemoreceptor and ventilatory response to hypoxia in 51 anesthetized cats. We found large interindividual differences in HVR spanning a sevenfold range. In 23 cats studied on two separate days, ventilatory measurements were correlated (r = 0.54, P less than 0.01), suggesting stable interindividual differences. Measurements during wakefulness and in anesthesia in nine cats showed that although anesthesia lowered the absolute HVR it had no influence on the range or the rank of the magnitude of the response of individuals in the group. We observed a positive correlation between ventilatory and carotid sinus nerve (CSN) responses to hypoxia measured during anesthesia in 51 cats (r = 0.63, P less than 0.001). To assess the translation of peripheral chemoreceptor activity into expiratory minute ventilation (VE) we used an index relating the increase of VE to the increase of CSN activity for a given hypoxic stimulus (delta VE/delta CSN). Comparison of this index for cats with lowest (n = 5, HVR A = 7.0 +/- 0.8) and cats with highest (n = 5, HVR A = 53.2 +/- 4.9) ventilatory responses showed similar efficiency of central translation (0.72 +/- 0.06 and 0.70 +/- 0.08, respectively). These results indicate that interindividual variation in HVR is associated with comparable variation in hypoxic sensitivity of carotid bodies. Thus differences in peripheral chemoreceptor sensitivity may contribute to interindividual variability of HVR.     

Biphasic ventilatory response of adult cats to sustained hypoxia has central origin

Hypoxia stimulates ventilation, but when it is sustained, a decrease in the response is often seen. The mechanism of this depression or "roll off" is unclear. In this study we attempted to localize the responsible mechanism at one of three possible sites: the carotid bodies, the central nervous system (CNS), or the ventilatory apparatus. The ventilatory response to sustained hypoxia (PETO2, 40-50 Torr) was tested in 5 awake and 14 anesthetized adult cats. The roll off was found in both anesthetized and awake cats. Isocapnic hypoxia initially increased ventilation as well as phrenic and carotid sinus nerve activity in anesthetized cats (288 +/- 31, 269 +/- 31, 273 +/- 29% of control value, respectively). During the roll off, ventilation and phrenic nerve activity decreased similarly (to 230 +/- 26 and 222 +/- 28%, respectively after the roll off), but in contrast carotid sinus nerve activity remained unchanged (270 +/- 26%). Thus the ventilatory roll off was reflected in phrenic but not in carotid sinus nerve activity. We conclude that the cat represents a useful animal model of the roll off phenomenon and that the mechanism responsible for the secondary decrease in ventilation lays within the CNS.     

Increased carotid body hypoxic sensitivity during acclimatization to hypobaric hypoxia

Mechanisms of ventilatory acclimatization to chronic hypoxia remain unclear. To determine whether the sensitivity of peripheral chemoreceptors to hypoxia increases during acclimatization, we measured ventilatory and carotid sinus nerve responses to isocapnic hypoxia in seven cats exposed to simulated altitude of 15,000 ft (barometric pressure = 440 Torr) for 48 h. A control group (n = 7) was selected for hypoxic ventilatory responses matched to the preacclimatized measurements of the experimental group. Exposure to 48 h of hypobaric hypoxia produced acclimatization manifested as decrease in end-tidal PCO2 (PETCO2) in normoxia (34.5 +/- 0.9 Torr before, 28.9 +/- 1.2 after the exposure) as well as in hypoxia (28.1 +/- 1.9 Torr before, 21.8 +/- 1.9 after). Acclimatization produced an increase in hypoxic ventilatory response, measured as the shape parameter A (24.9 +/- 2.6 before, 35.2 +/- 5.6 after; P less than 0.05), whereas values in controls remained unchanged (25.7 +/- 3.2 and 23.1 +/- 2.7; NS). Hypoxic exposure was associated with an increase in the carotid body response to hypoxia, similarly measured as the shape parameter A (24.2 +/- 4.7 in control, 44.5 +/- 8.2 in acclimatized cats). We also found an increased dependency of ventilation on carotid body function (PETCO2 increased after unilateral section of carotid sinus nerve in acclimatized but not in control animals). These results suggest that acclimatization is associated with increased hypoxic ventilatory response accompanied by enhanced peripheral chemoreceptor responsiveness, which may contribute to the attendant rise in ventilation.     

Time course of air hunger mirrors the biphasic ventilatory response to hypoxia.

Determining response dynamics of hypoxic air hunger may provide information of use in clinical practice and will improve understanding of basic dyspnea mechanisms. It is hypothesized that air hunger arises from projection of reflex brain stem ventilatory drive ("corollary discharge") to forebrain centers. If perceptual response dynamics are unmodified by events between brain stem and cortical awareness, this hypothesis predicts that air hunger will exactly track ventilatory response. Thus, during sustained hypoxia, initial increase in air hunger would be followed by a progressive decline reflecting biphasic reflex ventilatory drive. To test this prediction, we applied a sharp-onset 20-min step of normocapnic hypoxia and compared dynamic response characteristics of air hunger with that of ventilation in 10 healthy subjects. Air hunger was measured during mechanical ventilation (minute ventilation = 9 +/- 1.4 l/min; end-tidal Pco(2) = 37 +/- 2 Torr; end-tidal Po(2) = 45 +/- 7 Torr); ventilatory response was measured during separate free-breathing trials in the same subjects. Discomfort caused by "urge to breathe" was rated every 30 s on a visual analog scale. Both ventilatory and air hunger responses were modeled as delayed double exponentials corresponding to a simple linear first-order response but with a separate first-order adaptation. These models provided adequate fits to both ventilatory and air hunger data (r(2) = 0.88 and 0.66). Mean time constant and time-to-peak response for the average perceptual response (0.36 min(-1) and 3.3 min, respectively) closely matched corresponding values for the average ventilatory response (0.39 min(-1) and 3.1 min). Air hunger response to sustained hypoxia tracked ventilatory drive with a delay of approximately 30 s. Our data provide further support for the corollary discharge hypothesis for air hunger.     

Almitrine bismesylate and the central and peripheral ventilatory response to CO2

Effects of almitrine bismesylate on the peripheral and central chemoreflex to a CO2 challenge during normoxia were studied in nine alpha-chloralose-urethan anesthetized cats. With the dynamic end-tidal CO2 forcing technique the ventilatory response after a square-wave change in end-tidal PCO2 (PETCO2) was partitioned into a central and a peripheral part using a two-compartment model. With almitrine administered intravenously (0.6 mg/kg followed by a maintenance dose of 0.4 mg.kg-1 X h-1) the CO2 sensitivity of the peripheral chemoreflex increased on the average from 0.315 to 0.564 l.min-1 X kPa-1 (P less than 0.001, 6 cats, 73 runs), whereas the CO2 sensitivity of the central chemoreflex remained the same (P = 0.87). The extrapolated PETCO2 at zero ventilation (apneic threshold) of the (total) steady-state response curve decreased on the average from 3.50 to 2.36 kPa (P less than 0.001). With the artificial brain stem perfusion technique it was confirmed that almitrine did not affect ventilation by administering it to the blood perfusing the brain stem. We conclude that almitrine bismesylate during normoxia enhances the CO2 sensitivity of the peripheral chemoreflex loop and decreases the apneic threshold due to an action located outside the brain stem.     

Attenuated carotid body hypoxic sensitivity after prolonged hypoxic exposure

Prolonged exposure to hypoxia is accompanied by decreased hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR), but the relative importance of peripheral and central mechanisms of this hypoxic desensitization remain unclear. To determine whether the hypoxic sensitivity of peripheral chemoreceptors decreases during chronic hypoxia, we measured ventilatory and carotid sinus nerve (CSN) responses to isocapnic hypoxia in five cats exposed to simulated altitude of 5,500 m (barometric pressure 375 Torr) for 3-4 wk. Exposure to 3-4 wk of hypobaric hypoxia produced a decrease in HVR, measured as the shape parameter A in cats both awake (from 53.9 +/- 10.1 to 14.8 +/- 1.8; P less than 0.05) and anesthetized (from 50.2 +/- 8.2 to 8.5 +/- 1.8; P less than 0.05). Sustained hypoxic exposure decreased end-tidal CO2 tension (PETCO2, 33.3 +/- 1.2 to 28.1 +/- 1.3 Torr) during room-air breathing in awake cats. To determine whether hypocapnia contributed to the observed depression in HVR, we also measured eucapnic HVR (PETCO2 33.3 +/- 0.9 Torr) and found that HVR after hypoxic exposure remained lower than preexposed value (A = 17.4 +/- 4.2 vs. 53.9 +/- 10.1 in awake cats; P less than 0.05). A control group (n = 5) was selected for hypoxic ventilatory response matched to the baseline measurements of the experimental group. The decreased HVR after hypoxic exposure was associated with a parallel decrease in the carotid body response to hypoxia (A = 20.6 +/- 4.8) compared with that of control cats (A = 46.9 +/- 6.3; P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Comparison of chemoreflex gains obtained with two different methods in cats

This study investigates the correspondence between results of the ventilatory response to CO2 obtained using the technique of dynamic end-tidal CO2 forcing (DEF) and results obtained using the technique of artificial brain stem perfusion (ABP). The DEF technique separates the dynamic ventilatory response into a slow and fast component with gains g1 and g2 as well as the extrapolated CO2 tension at zero ventilation (Bk). The ABP technique results in steady-state central (Sc) and peripheral (Sp) chemoreflex gains and extrapolated CO2 tension at zero ventilation (B). Experiments were performed on 14 alpha-chloralose-urethan anesthetized cats. A wide range of relative peripheral chemosensitivities was obtained by subjecting eight cats to normoxic and three cats to hypoxic CO2 challenges and three cats to both conditions. Statistical analysis of the experimental data showed that the vectors (g1, g2, Bk) and (Sc, Sp, B) for each cat did not differ significantly (P = 0.56). This was also the case for the vectors [g2/(g1 + g2), Bk] and [Sp/(Sc + Sp), B] (P = 0.21). We conclude that in the DEF experiments the slow ventilatory response to isoxic changes in end-tidal CO2 can be equated with the central chemoreflex loop and the faster ventilatory response to the peripheral chemoreflex loop. The agreement between the two techniques is good.     

Brain tissue pH and ventilatory acclimatization to high altitude.

31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-NMRS) was performed on brain cross sections of four human subjects before and after 7 days in a hypobaric chamber at 447 Torr to test the hypothesis that brain intracellular acidosis develops during acclimatization to high altitude and accounts for the progressively increasing ventilation that develops (ventilatory acclimatization). Arterial blood gas measurements confirmed increased ventilation. At the end of 1 wk of hypobaria, brain intracellular pH was 7.023 +/- 0.046 (SD), unchanged from preexposure pH of 6.998 +/- 0.029. After return to sea level, however, it decreased to 6.918 +/- 0.032 at 15 min (P less than 0.01) and 6.920 +/- 0.046 at 12 h (P less than 0.01). The ventilatory response to hypoxia increased [from 0.35 +/- 0.11 (l/min)/(-%O2 saturation) before exposure to 0.69 +/- 0.19 after, P = 0.06]. Brain intracellular acidosis is probably not a supplemental stimulus to ventilatory acclimatization to high altitude. However, brain intracellular acidosis develops on return to normoxia from chronic hypoxia, suggesting that brain pH may follow changes in blood and cerebrospinal fluid pH as they are altered by changes in ventilation.     

Ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia is not dependent on cerebral hypocapnic alkalosis

We previously demonstrated that, in awake goats, 6 h of hypoxic carotid body perfusion during systemic normoxia produced time-dependent hyperventilation that is typical of ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia (VAH). The hypocapnic alkalosis that occurred could have produced VAH by inducing cerebral vasoconstriction and brain lactic acidosis even though systemic arterial normoxia was maintained. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that hypocapnic alkalosis is a necessary component of VAH. Goats were prepared so that one carotid body could be perfused, from an extracorporeal circuit, with blood in which gas tensions could be controlled independently from the blood perfusing the systemic arterial system, including the brain. Using this preparation we carried out 4 h of hypoxic carotid body perfusion while maintaining systemic arterial (and brain) normoxia in awake goats. Expired minute ventilation (VE) was measured while CO2 was added to inspired air to maintain normocapnia. Carotid body PCO2 and PO2 were maintained near 40 Torr during the 4-h carotid body perfusion. Control mean VE was 8.65 +/- 0.48 l/min (mean +/- SE). With acute carotid body hypoxia (30 min) VE increased to 21.73 +/- 2.02 l/min (P less than 0.05); over the ensuing 3.5 h of carotid body hypoxia, VE progressively increased to 39.14 +/- 4.14 l/min (P less than 0.05). These data indicate that neither cerebral hypoxia nor hypocapnic alkalosis are required to produce VAH. After termination of the 4-h carotid body stimulation, hyperventilation was not maintained in these studies, i.e., there was no deacclimatization. This suggests that acclimatization and deacclimatization are produced by different mechanisms.     

Ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia is not dependent on arterial hypoxemia

Goats were prepared so that one carotid body (CB) could be perfused with blood in which the gas tensions could be controlled independently from the blood perfusing the systemic arterial system, including the brain. Since one CB is functionally adequate, the nonperfused CB was excised. To determine whether systemic arterial hypoxemia is necessary for ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia (VAH), the CB was perfused with hypoxic normocapnic blood for 6 h [means +/- SE: partial pressure of carotid body O2 (PcbO2), 40.6 +/- 0.3 Torr; partial pressure of carotid body CO2 (PcbCO2), 38.8 +/- 0.2 Torr] while the awake goat breathed room air to maintain systemic arterial normoxia. In control periods before and after CB hypoxia the CB was perfused with hyperoxic normocapnic blood. Changes in arterial PCO2 (PaCO2) were used as an index of changes in ventilation. Acute hypoxia (0.5 h of hypoxic perfusion) resulted in hyperventilation sufficient to reduce average PaCO2 by 6.7 Torr from control (P less than 0.05). Over the subsequent 5.5 h of hypoxic perfusion, average PaCO2 decreased further, reaching 4.8 Torr below that observed acutely (P less than 0.05). Acute CB hyperoxic perfusion (20 min) following 6 h of hypoxia resulted in only partial restoration of PaCO2 toward control values; PaCO2 remained 7.9 Torr below control (P less than 0.05). The progressive hyperventilation that occurred during and after 6 h of CB hypoxia with concomitant systemic normoxia is similar to that occurring with total body hypoxia. We conclude that systemic (and probably brain) hypoxia is not a necessary requisite for VAH.     

Brain glutamate metabolism during hypoxia and peripheral chemodenervation

Glutamate stimulates resting ventilation by altering neural excitability centrally. Hypoxia increases central ventilatory drive through peripheral chemoreceptor stimulation and may also alter cerebral perfusion and glutamate metabolism locally. Therefore the effect of hypoxia and peripheral chemodenervation on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) transfer rate of in vivo tracer amidated central nervous system glutamate was studied in intact and chemodenervated pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs during normoxia and after 1 h of hypoxia induced with 10 or 12% O2 in N2 breathing at constant expired ventilation and arterial CO2 tension. Chemodenervation was performed by bilateral sectioning of the carotid body nerves and cervical vagi. CSF transfer rates of radiotracer 13NH4+ and [13N]glutamine synthesized via the reaction, glutamate + NH4(+)----glutamine, in brain glia were measured during normoxia and after 1 h of hypoxia. At normoxia, maximal glial glutamine efflux rate jm = 103.3 +/- 11.2 (SE) mumol.l-1.min-1 in all animals. After 1 h of hypoxia in intact animals, jm = 78.4 +/- 10.0 mumol.l-1.min-1. In denervated animals, jm was decreased to 46.3 +/- 4.3 mumol.l-1.min-1. During hypoxia, mean cerebral cortical glutamate concentration was higher in denervated animals (9.98 +/- 1.43 mumol/g brain tissue) than in intact animals (7.63 +/- 1.82 mumol/g brain tissue) and corresponding medullary glutamate concentration tended to be higher in denervated animals. There were no differences between mean glutamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid concentrations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of centrally administered gamma-aminobutyric acid on metabolic function

gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) content of the brain increases during hypoxia and hypercapnia and GABA by itself is a central ventilatory depressant and may depress metabolism as well. Therefore the effect of centrally administered GABA by ventriculocisternal perfusion on O2 consumption (VO2) and CO2 production (VCO2) was studied in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs. GABA (30 mM) in mock cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was perfused for 15 min at the rate of 1.0 ml/min followed by perfusion with mock CSF alone. Body temperature, perfusion pressure, and CSF pH were kept constant. Minute ventilation (VE) was kept constant mechanically. Under these conditions, VO2, VCO2, alveolar ventilation (VA), and relative pulmonary dead space volume (VD/VT) were measured. During perfusion with 30 mM GABA, mean VO2 (+/- SE) decreased from 96.5 +/- 3.3 to 81.9 +/- 5.1 ml/min, VCO2 from 72.1 +/- 3.8 to 60.7 +/- 3.0 ml/min, and VA from 1.7 +/- 0.1 to 1.3 +/- 0.1 l/min. VD/VT increased from 0.55 +/- 0.02 to 0.65 +/- 0.01. Perfusion with mock CSF alone restored these parameters to initial levels within 15 min. We conclude that centrally administered GABA depresses VO2 and VCO2. This reduction in metabolic function is independent of the central modulatory effects of GABA on respiration.     

Effect of brain blood flow on hypoxic ventilatory response in humans

To assess the effect of brain blood flow on hypoxic ventilatory response, we measured arterial and internal jugular venous blood gases and ventilation simultaneously and repeatedly in eight healthy male humans in two settings: 1) progressive and subsequent sustained hypoxia, and 2) stepwise and progressive hypercapnia. Ventilatory response to progressive isocapnic hypoxia [arterial O2 partial pressure 155.9 +/- 4.0 (SE) to 46.7 +/- 1.5 Torr] was expressed as change in minute ventilation per change in arterial O2 saturation and varied from -0.16 to -1.88 [0.67 +/- 0.19 (SE)] l/min per % among subjects. In the meanwhile, jugular venous PCO2 (PjCO2) decreased significantly from 51.0 +/- 1.1 to 47.3 +/- 1.0 Torr (P less than 0.01), probably due to the increase in brain blood flow, and stayed at the same level during 15 min of sustained hypoxia. Based on the assumption that PjCO2 reflects the brain tissue PCO2, we evaluated the depressant effect of fall in PjCO2 on hypoxic ventilatory response, using a slope for ventilation-PjCO2 line which was determined in the second set of experiments. Hypoxic ventilatory response corrected with this factor was -1.31 +/- 0.33 l/min per %, indicating that this factor modulated hypoxic ventilatory response in humans. The ventilatory response to progressive isocapnic hypoxia did not correlate with this factor but significantly correlated with the withdrawal test (modified transient O2 test), which was performed on a separate day. Accordingly we conclude that an increase in brain blood flow during exposure to moderate hypoxia may substantially attenuate the ventilatory response but that it is unlikely to be the major factor of the interindividual variation of progressive isocapnic hypoxic ventilatory response in humans.