title: Modeling the ponto-medullary respiratory network.
abstract: The generation and shaping of the respiratory motor pattern are performed in the lower brainstem and involve neuronal interactions within the medulla and between the medulla and pons. A computational model of the ponto-medullary respiratory network has been developed by incorporating existing experimental data on the medullary neural circuits and possible interactions between the medulla and pons. The model reproduces a number of experimental findings concerning alterations of the respiratory pattern following various perturbations/stimulations applied to the pons and pulmonary afferents. The results of modeling support the concept that eupneic respiratory rhythm generation requires contribution of the pons whereas a gasping-like rhythm (and the rhythm observed in vitro) may be generated within the medulla and involve pacemaker-driven mechanisms localized within the medullary pre-Botzinger Complex. The model and experimental data described support the concept that during eupnea the respiration-related pontine structures control the medullary network mechanisms for respiratory phase transitions, suppress the intrinsic pacemaker-driven oscillations in the pre-BotC and provide inspiration-inhibitory and expiration-facilitatory reflexes which are independent of the pulmonary Hering-Breuer reflex but operate through the same medullary phase switching circuits.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. rybak@cbis.ece.drexel.edu
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Rybak
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Shevtsova
authors.forename: J F R
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Paton
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Dick
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: St-John
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mörschel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dutschmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D011149:Pons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D012119:Respiration; D014628:Vagotomy / Q000379:methods