Respiratory rhythm and pattern generation in <I>in vivo</I> and <I>in vitro</I> preparations

DOI
  • Ezure Kazuhisa
    Dept. Neurobiol., Tokyo Metropol. Inst. Neurosci., Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • In vivo および in vitro 標本における呼吸リズムとパターン形成機構

Abstract

The brainstem respiratory network, which involves a variety of respiratory neurons and constitutes the respiratory center, generates the automatic rhythmicity of respiration and the spatio-temporally organized contraction of respiration-related muscles. In vivo electrophysiological and neuroanatomical studies using largely cats and rats, have greatly increased our knowledge about the overall respiratory system and its network mechanisms. Currently, a limited region of the ventrolateral medulla, which spans the areas called the Boetzinger complex and the pre-Boetzinger complex, is the focus of our attention. In this region, a number of excitatory and inhibitory neurons with specific firing patterns and characteristic morphological features have been identified. These neurons form the networks that involve 1) inhibitory connections between inspiratory and expiratory neurons, 2) excitatory connections between inspiratory neurons, 3) inhibitory connections between expiratory neurons, and 4) inhibitory connections between inspiratory neurons. Some of these synaptic connections seem to be essential for the generation of respiratory rhythm, and some for the formation of patterned respiratory outputs. On the other hand, at the level of individual neurons it is often impossible to unequivocally determine whether some specific neurons are essential either for rhythm generation or for pattern formation, suggesting that such classifications may not always be meaningful. As an introductory talk of this symposium, these topics will be discussed in relation to other speakers’ analyses in in vitro preparations. [Jpn J Physiol 55 Suppl:S62 (2005)]

Journal

Details

  • CRID
    1390282680704738560
  • NII Article ID
    130005447971
  • DOI
    10.14849/psjproc.2005.0_s62_2
  • Data Source
    • JaLC
    • CiNii Articles
  • Abstract License Flag
    Disallowed

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