Role of the parabrachial nuclei in the airway dilation evoked by the Hering-Breuer reflex.
We tested the hypothesis that blockade of glutamatergic receptors in the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) of chloralose-anesthetized cats attenuated the reflex airway dilation evoked by activation of pulmonary stretch receptors. Unilateral microinjection of kynurenic acid (50 nl, 100 mM) into the PBN reversibly attenuated the reflex relaxation of the trachealis muscle in 7 cats. These findings suggest that the PBN is part of the central pathway mediating the airway dilation component of the Hering-Breuer reflex.
Motekaitis
A M
AM
Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
Solomon
I C
IC
Kaufman
M P
MP
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D007736:Kynurenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008845:Microinjections; D011149:Pons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011661:Pulmonary Stretch Receptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology
D007736:Kynurenic Acid