Respiratory rhythms generated in the lamprey rhombencephalon.
Brainstem networks generating the respiratory rhythm in lampreys are still not fully characterized. In this study, we described the patterns of respiratory activities and we identified the general location of underlying neural networks. In a semi-intact preparation including the brain and gills, rhythmic discharges were recorded bilaterally with surface electrodes placed over the vagal motoneurons. The main respiratory output driving rhythmic gill movements consisted of short bursts (40.9+/-15.6 ms) of discharge occurring at a frequency of 1.0+/-0.3 Hz. This fast pattern was interrupted by long bursts (506.3+/-174.6 ms) recurring with an average period of 37.4+/-24.9 s. After isolating the brainstem by cutting all cranial nerves, the frequency of the short respiratory bursts did not change significantly, but the slow pattern was less frequent. Local injections of a glutamate agonist (AMPA) and antagonists (6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) or D,L-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP5)) were made over different brainstem regions to influence respiratory output. The results were similar in the semi-intact and isolated-brainstem preparations. Unilateral injection of AP5 or CNQX over a rostral rhombencephalic region, lateral to the rostral pole of the trigeminal motor nucleus, decreased the frequency of the fast respiratory rhythm bilaterally or stopped it altogether. Injection of AMPA at the same site increased the rate of the fast respiratory rhythm and decreased the frequency of the slow pattern. The activity recorded in this area was synchronous with that recorded over the vagal motoneurons. After a complete transverse lesion of the brainstem caudal to the trigeminal motor nucleus, the fast rhythm was confined to the rostral area, while only the slow activity persisted in the vagal motoneurons. Our results support the hypothesis that normal breathing depends on the activity of neurons located in the rostral rhombencephalon in lampreys, whereas the caudal rhombencephalon generates the slow pattern.
Martel
B
B
Centre de Recherche en Sciences Neurologiques, Université de Montréal, Casier Postal 6128, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3C 3J7.
Guimond
J C
JC
Gariépy
J F
JF
Gravel
J
J
Auclair
F
F
Kolta
A
A
Lund
J P
JP
Dubuc
R
R
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001934:Branchial Region / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005880:Gills / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010507:Periodicity; D048428:Petromyzon / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D011149:Pons / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012125:Respiratory Center / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D012249:Rhombencephalon / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018698:Glutamic Acid