Journal of Neurophysiology, Vol 73, Issue 3 1303-1307, Copyright © 1995 by APS

ARTICLES

Ventral respiratory group bulbospinal inspiratory neurons participate in vestibular-respiratory reflexes

A. D. Miller, T. Yamaguchi, M. S. Siniaia and B. J. Yates
Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021-6399, USA.

1. The vestibular system responds to accelerations of the head and produces reflex responses that serve a variety of compensatory functions. The neuronal circuitry that mediates vestibulo-respiratory reflexes is largely unknown. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the possible role of bulbospinal inspiratory neurons located in the para-ambigual region of the ventral respiratory group (VRG) in mediating these reflexes. Experiments were carried out in cats that were decerebrated, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated. 2. Activation of the vestibular nerve by electrical stimulation produced prominent bilateral reflex responses recorded from the phrenic nerve, which supplies the diaphragm. The responses could be complex and consisted of a decrease and/or increase in nerve discharge. 3. Extracellular recordings were made from 35 VRG inspiratory neurons that were antidromically activated from the upper cervical spinal cord. Almost one-half of these neurons (15/35, 43%) responded to vestibular stimulation. The neuronal response patterns were consistent with VRG inspiratory neurons contributing to the vestibular reflex response simultaneously recorded from the phrenic nerve. 4. The present results indicate that approximately one-half of VRG bulbospinal inspiratory neurons contribute to vestibulo-respiratory reflexes. These findings are in contrast to our recent neuroanatomic and electrophysiological studies which revealed a paucity of vestibular inputs to the dorsal respiratory group (DRG) located in the ventrolateral nucleus of the solitary tract. Thus there appears to be a difference between inspiratory neurons in the DRG and VRG in regard to participating in vestibulo-respiratory reflexes.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Arshian, R. J. Holtje, L. A. Cotter, C. D. Rice, S. P. Cass, and B. J. Yates Consequences of postural changes and removal of vestibular inputs on the movement of air in and out of the lungs of conscious felines J Appl Physiol, July 1, 2007; 103(1): 347 - 352. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Musallam and R. D. Tomlinson Asymmetric Integration Recorded From Vestibular-Only Cells in Response to Position Transients J Neurophysiol, October 1, 2002; 88(4): 2104 - 2113. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. F. Woodring and B. J. Yates Responses of ventral respiratory group neurons of the cat to natural vestibular stimulation Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, December 1, 1997; 273(6): R1946 - R1956. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. D. Monahan, M. K. Sharpe, D. Drury, A. C. Ertl, and C. A. Ray Influence of vestibular activation on respiration in humans Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, March 1, 2002; 282(3): R689 - R694. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]