title: The mammalian diving response: an enigmatic reflex to preserve life?
abstract: The mammalian diving response is a remarkable behavior that overrides basic homeostatic reflexes. It is most studied in large aquatic mammals but is seen in all vertebrates. Pelagic mammals have developed several physiological adaptations to conserve intrinsic oxygen stores, but the apnea, bradycardia, and vasoconstriction is shared with those terrestrial and is neurally mediated. The adaptations of aquatic mammals are reviewed here as well as the neural control of cardiorespiratory physiology during diving in rodents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Science, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA. pannetwm@slu.edu
authors.forename: W Michael
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Panneton
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000294:innervation*; D004242:Diving; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006706:Homeostasis; D008168:Lung / Q000294:innervation*; D008322:Mammals / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D012018:Reflex; D012119:Respiration; D012377:Rodentia / Q000502:physiology