title: Effect of baroreceptor stimulation on the respiratory pattern: insights into respiratory-sympathetic interactions.
abstract: Sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) is modulated by respiratory activity which indicates the existence of direct interactions between the respiratory and sympathetic networks within the brainstem. Our experimental studies reveal that T(E) prolongation evoked by baroreceptor stimulation varies with respiratory phase and depends on the pons. We speculate that the sympathetic baroreceptor reflex, providing negative feedback from baroreceptors to the rostral ventrolateral medulla and SNA, has two pathways: one direct and independent of the respiratory-sympathetic interactions and the other operating via the respiratory pattern generator and is hence dependent on the respiratory modulation of SNA. Our experimental studies in the perfused in situ rat preparation and complementary computational modelling studies support the hypothesis that baroreceptor activation during expiration prolongs the T(E) via transient activation of post-inspiratory and inhibition of augmenting expiratory neurones of the Bötzinger Complex (BötC). We propose that these BötC neurones are also involved in the respiratory modulation of SNA, and contribute to the respiratory modulation of the sympathetic baroreceptor reflex.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-5067, USA. david.baekey@case.edu
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Baekey
authors.forename: Yaroslav I
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Molkov
authors.forename: Julian F R
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Paton
authors.forename: Ilya A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Rybak
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Dick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000166:cytology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011311:Pressoreceptors / Q000502:physiology*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System