title: Effect of substance P on respiratory rhythm and pre-inspiratory neurons in the ventrolateral structure of rostral medulla oblongata: an in vitro study.
abstract: The pre-inspiratory (Pre-I) neurons which fire in the pre- and usually also during the post-inspiratory phase are located in the ventrolateral structures of the rostral medulla. They are suggested as primary rhythm generating neurons for respiration. These have been studied in isolated brainstem-spinal cord preparations from newborn 0-5-day-old rats. We have found that application of substance P (SP) enhanced the respiratory rhythm as measured by C4 ventral root and pre-I neuronal activities. Furthermore, the effect of SP was dependent on basal respiratory rate. An increase of the Pre-I and C4 burst rate by SP was clearer when the basal respiratory rhythm was somewhat lower. Moreover, long lasting depression of respiratory rate after the application of the alpha 2-agonist clonidine was reversed by SP. On the other hand, an inhibitory effect appeared in preparations with a higher basal respiratory rate, while the Pre-I burst rate tended to increase during SP perfusion. During chemical synaptic transmission blockade by perfusion with low Ca2+, high Mg2+ solution, a pre-I burst retained or completely blocked was found to be enhanced or reactivated by SP perfusion. The results suggest a direct postsynaptic action of SP, which could strongly stimulate burst generating properties of Pre-I neurons.
authors.affiliation: Nobel Institute for Neurophysiology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Onimaru
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Homma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000187:drug effects*; D013373:Substance P / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013373:Substance P