title: PAF and the role of the vagus nerve in the breathing pattern of the pig.
abstract: In 14 anesthetized, spontaneously breathing pigs we examined the changes in breathing pattern, in respiratory mechanics and in systemic and pulmonary vascular parameters after i.v. PAF administration. In another 3 pigs, the effects of PAF were also examined after bilateral vagotomy. In intact pigs, PAF induces apnea, bronchoconstriction, pulmonary hypertension and systemic hypotension. Our results also show that administration of PAF alters the phasic vagal activity, modifying the slope of VT vs TI and TE vs TI relationships and the TI0/TI ratio. These effects and apnea are vagus-dependent. The central excitatory timing effect of PAF on inspiratory duration (TI0) was correlated with a decrease in passive compliance but not with active compliance. We postulate that the activation by vagal input strengthens the mechanisms that counteract the bronchoconstrictor effect of PAF.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Fisiologia Veterinaria e Biochimica, Università di Milano, Italia.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Clement
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albertini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dimori
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aguggini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016084:Bronchoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine; D014628:Vagotomy; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010972:Platelet Activating Factor