Episodic respiratory related discharge in turtle cranial motoneurons: in vivo and in vitro studies.
An in vitro brainstem-spinal cord preparation from adult turtles was used to study mechanisms underlying the episodic breathing pattern in poikilothermic vertebrates. The preparation (1) generates a stable, episodic burst pattern in cranial motoneuron discharge lasting several days; and (2) is similar to discharge patterns in vivo that are synchronous with respiratory airflow. Episodic breathing in reptiles appears to be intrinsic to the CNS in turtles, and does not require oscillations in afferent feedback.
Douse
M A
MA
Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706.
Mitchell
G S
GS
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010507:Periodicity; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*; D014426:Turtles / Q000502:physiology*