Biomedical subjects

B S Nail

Publications and source records attributed to B S Nail.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

Characterization of tachykinin receptors mediating bronchomotor and vasodepressor responses to neuropeptide gamma and substance P in the anaesthetized rabbit.

The effects of i.v. injections of two endogenous tachykinins, substance P (SP) and neuropeptide gamma and the highly selective tachykinin agonists [Sar9,Met(O2)11]-SP, [Lys5,MeLeu9, Nle10]-NKA(4-10) and senktide, on total lung resistance (RL), dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn) and systemic blood pressure, were compared in the anaesthetized rabbit. Senktide, the NK-3 receptor selective agonist, had no effect on RL, Cdyn or blood pressure. The other four agonists caused dose-dependent increases in RL and Cdyn, with [Sar9,Met(O2)11]-SP being the most potent agonist in producing changes in the absence of phosphoramidon. This suggested that NK-1 receptors play an important role in these responses. [Sar9, Met(O2)11]-SP, SP and neuropeptide gamma also decreased blood pressure. Phosphoramidon (1 mg/kg) potentiated the changes in RL and Cdyn evoked by [Sar9,Met(O2)11]-SP and SP, with very marked enhancement of responses to neuropeptide gamma. Responses to [Lys5, MeLeu9,Nle10]-NKA(4-10) were unaffected, suggesting that this NK-2 selective agonist may not be catabolized by neutral endopeptidase (NEP). In the presence of phosphoramidon, the non-peptide tachykinin NK-1 receptor selective antagonist CP 96345 (80 nmol/kg) reduced all responses to [Sar9,Met(O2)11]-SP and SP, whereas the NK-2 selective antagonist SR 48968 (40 nmol/kg) inhibited the bronchomotor but not the vasodepressor responses to neuropeptide gamma and [Lys5,MeLeu9, Nle10]-NKA(4-10). The fall in blood pressure induced by neuropeptide gamma was diminished by CP 96345, whereas bronchoconstriction was unaffected, indicating possible differences in NK-1 receptors in the vasculature and airways. Electrical stimulation of the distal ends of vagus nerves caused increases in RL which were abolished by atropine (1 mg/kg).

Anesthesia↗

PubMed1995

A differential bronchomotor response to cooling and drying the upper airway.

The present study aimed to compare the reflex bronchoconstrictor effects of upper airway applications of dry airstreams with equivalent cooling produced by cold isotonic and hypertonic saline solutions in anaesthetized rabbits. A method of on-line, breath by breath analysis of lung mechanics was used. The changes in total lung resistance (RL) and dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn) produced by dry airstreams and by cold hypertonic saline were greater than those induced by cold isotonic saline. Warm isotonic saline and supersaturated airstreams were ineffective. These results implicate osmotic disturbances in the response to dry airstreams. The response to dry airflow was abolished by section of the superior laryngeal nerves, by vagotomy and by atropine, suggesting a central cholinergic reflex mechanism is involved. Phosphoramidon had no effect, indicating that tachykinins are unlikely to play a role in this particular reflex.

Air↗

PubMed1994

Use of selective agonists and antagonists to characterize tachykinin receptors mediating airway responsiveness in anaesthetized guinea-pigs.

Tachykinins are potent bronchoconstrictors. Here we have used novel highly selective agonists and antagonists to characterize tachykinin receptors mediating bronchoconstriction and hypotension in anaesthetized, paralysed guinea-pigs. Total lung resistance (RL) and dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn) were measured using an on-line, breath-by-breath method to analyse lung mechanics. The effects of iv injections of neuropeptide gamma (NP gamma), [Sar9,Met(O2)11]-SP (Sar-SP) (NK-1 agonist), [Lys5,MeLeu9,Nle10]-NKA(4-10) (Lys-NKA) (NK-2 agonist) and senktide (NK-3 agonist) were compared, before and after iv injection of the NK-1 antagonist CP 96345 or the NK-2 antagonists MDL 29913 and SR 48968. NP gamma, Sar-SP and Lys-NKA, but not senktide, increased RL and decreased Cdyn, accompanied by a fall in blood pressure (BP). The potency for increase of RL was Lys-NKA > NP gamma congruent to Sar-SP, for reduction of Cdyn was Lys-NKA = Sar-SP > NP gamma, and for fall in BP was Sar-SP > NP gamma >> Lys-NKA. CP 96345 (50 nmol/kg & 200 nmol/kg) significantly antagonized the changes in RL, Cdyn and BP induced by Sar-SP, and the fall in BP (but not changes in lung mechanics) in response to NP gamma, but did not alter any responses to Lys-NKA. In contrast, MDL 29913 (200 nmol/kg & 10 mumol/kg) weakly and SR 48968 (100 nmol/kg) potently inhibited the effects on RL and Cdyn induced by Lys-NKA and NP gamma. Our results show that both NK-1 and NK-2 receptors are represented in guinea-pig airways. MDL 29913 is a weak NK-2 antagonist in guinea-pig airways compared to SR 48968. In addition, NK-1 but not NK-2 receptors appear to be important in mediating the hypotensive response to these tachykinins. In spite of its ability to cause a fall in BP via NK-1 receptors, NP gamma exerted its effects on RL and Cdyn solely via NK-2 receptors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

The effect of fetal lung inflation on fetal heart rate.

The effect on the fetal heart by inflating the fetal lungs with liquid or air while the animal was being maintained in utero by its normal placental circulation was investigated in 10 healthy, chronically catheterized fetal sheep of gestational age 126-137 days. It was found that initial attempts to inflate the lungs with volumes of air as small as 10 ml (i.e., with less than a predicted normal tidal volume) caused abrupt, powerful slowing of the fetal heart with, usually, an associated hypotension. Inflations with similarly small volumes of saline were ineffective. Atropine pretreatment abolished the cardiac slowing caused by the air inflations, indicating the operation of a neural reflex. An analysis of the pressure changes induced by the air and liquid inflations in airway, intrathoracic and intra-amniotic pressures showed that the cardiac slowing was primarily related to the level of mechanical stress applied across the fetal airway.

Air↗

PubMed1987

Laryngeal motoneurone activity in the rabbit during asphyxic gasping.

Unitary activity was recorded from 44 recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and 18 external laryngeal nerve (ELN) motoneurones in anaesthetized, paralysed rabbits during the development of periods of severe asphyxia caused by temporarily interrupting artificial ventilation. Ventilation was only recommenced when a simultaneously recorded phrenic neurogram showed the animal had attempted several gasps. Inspiratory-phased fibres (17 RLN, 14 ELN) displayed brief high frequency discharges with each gasp. Some inspiratory-phased ELN motoneurones (6/14) also displayed longer tonic discharges after each of the first few gasps. In the expiratory intervals immediately following each gasp many expiratory-phased fibres (13/21 RLN, 2/4 ELN) were active and 7 RLN fibres discharged a long train of impulses with a decrementing discharge pattern. In 3 anaesthetized rabbits, breathing spontaneously through a tracheostomy, a constant airflow was directed up through the larynx; successive gasps were associated with wide swings in translaryngeal pressure which were confirmed visually as reflecting rapid dilation of the glottis during gasps and intense constriction in the intervals between gasps.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1987

Quantitative analysis of laryngeal mechanosensitivity in the cat and rabbit.

1. Single afferent fibres in the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve which responded to light touch or gentle probing of discrete areas of the exposed epithelium of the opened larynx were identified in anaesthetized, paralysed cats (148 fibres) and rabbits (58 fibres). 2. A quantitative examination of the sensitivity of these laryngeal mechanoreceptors to both static (step indentations) and dynamic (vibratory) forms of mechanical stimulation was undertaken using a servo-controlled mechanical stimulator. 3. In both species two predominant classes of mechanoreceptors were observed (Boushey, Richardson, Widdicombe & Wise, 1974). One class was distinguished by a regular and continuous pattern of activity at a frequency of 10-70 Hz (tonic fibres, sixty-six in cat, thirty-five in rabbit). The other class was silent or (more rarely) irregularly active at a very low frequency (silent fibres, eighty-two in cat, twenty-three in rabbit). 4. The location of the receptive fields was determined by manual probing. Inter-species and regional variations in receptive field location were observed for the two fibre groups. 5. Conduction velocity was measured for twenty-one tonic and seven silent fibres in the rabbit by a pre-triggered averaging technique. The results obtained (tonic: range 10.8-30.0, mean +/- S.E. of mean 21.4 +/- 1.2 m/s; silent: 14.8-28.6, 20.4 +/- 1.8 m/s) were characteristic of group III afferent fibres but were not significantly different for the two classes. 6. Both classes of receptor showed a response at the onset of a step indentation of the region of the mucosa that corresponded to their receptive field. Subsequent to this brief initial response the behaviour of the two classes diverged markedly. Tonic fibres were invariably slowly adapting whereas most (forty-four out of fifty-five in cat; twenty-two out of twenty-three in rabbit) silent fibres were rapidly adapting, at least for smaller indentation amplitudes. 7. Receptors of both classes were readily entrained to discharge at the same frequency as the probe stimulator (1:1 entrainment) when this was made to vibrate upon the receptive area for test periods of 0.5 or 1.0 s. Tuning curves were constructed of the minimum amplitudes required to elicit 1:1 entrainment throughout an entire test period at various frequencies. 8. Individual fibres in the two classes could be entrained at frequencies up to 400 Hz or more at sensitive (e.g. less than 100 microns) vibratory amplitudes. However, all fibres were less sensitive at these higher frequencies than at some lower point on the frequency scale.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Respiratory muscle activity during asphyxic apnoea and opisthotonus in the rabbit.

The behaviour of submandibular, cervical, thoracic and abdominal respiratory muscles was examined in the pentobarbitone-urethane-anaesthetized rabbit during progressive asphyxia induced by rebreathing. During asphyxic hyperpnoea the external intercostal, interchondral and scalene inspiratory activities augmented until succeeded by the apnoeic period, in which all were inhibited with the diaphragm. Likewise, the genioglossus, sternohyoid and thyrohyoid muscles exhibited inspiratory augmentation during asphyxic hyperpnoea until the onset of apnoeic inhibition. However, late in the apnoea these muscles, together with the sternothyroid, sternomastoid and digastric muscles, generated an augmenting tonic discharge associated with an intense abdominal constriction, and with the extension of the limbs characteristic of opisthotonus. This intense tonic activity, which was never expressed by the diaphragm and thoracic inspiratory muscles, was immediately interrupted or terminated by the subsequent inspiratory efforts of gasping respiration, during which the abdominal muscles were inhibited but all the submandibular, cervical and thoracic inspiratory muscles greatly participated. The mylohyoid muscles presented augmenting expiratory activity during asphyxic hyperpnoea which declined during the apnoea. These muscles, however, did not exhibit the intense tonic discharge expressed by the expiratory abdominal and inspiratory submandibular and cervical muscles in late apnoea and were not active in gasping.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Tachypnoeic response to amyl nitrite inhalation in the rabbit.

Intratracheal inhalation of amyl nitrite, a non-specific smooth muscle relaxant, in the pentobarbitone/urethane anaesthetized rabbit caused reductions in tidal volume and both inspiratory and expiratory times, without a preceding apnoea, that were independent of the associated hypotension and of reflex influences from the carotid sinus region but dependent on supra-abdominal vagal integrity. In artificially ventilated, paralyzed rabbits amyl nitrite caused a pronounced sensitization of pulmonary stretch receptors (PSRs) during the inflation phase, typically with a reduction in the level of activity during the deflation phase. The time course of the change in the pattern of PSR activity paralleled that of the tachypnoeic response. The sensitization of a small sample of rapidly adapting 'irritant' receptors was of a significantly shorter duration. A unitary analysis of non-myelinated vagal afferents was not attempted. The sensitization of these vagal afferents cannot be attributed to the smooth muscle relaxant properties of amyl nitrite since other relaxants (sodium nitrite, sodium nitroprusside, phentolamine) did not possess this capacity, and such properties would be expected to diminish their activities.

Afferent Pathways↗

PubMed1985

Diaphragmatic, thoracic and limb motor effects of amyl nitrite inhalation.

In the pentobarbitone/urethane anaesthetized rabbit and pentobarbitone anaesthetized cat intratracheal inhalation of amyl nitrite, a non-specific smooth muscle relaxant, caused a vagally dependent depression of patellar reflex and spontaneous (thermal shivering and external intercostal inspiratory) motor activities. A prolonged vagally-independent potentiation succeeded the initial inhibition. The potentiation of intercostal activity may account for the increase in tidal volume produced by amyl nitrite after vagotomy. The patellar reflex potentiation survived thoracolumbar spinal transection but could not be attributed to a direct facilitation of neuromuscular or muscular events. A correlation existed between the relative dependence of fusimotor support of a muscle and its susceptibility to the inhibitory and subsequent facilitatory affects of amyl nitrite inhalation. The diaphragm and interchondral muscles, essentially independent of the autogenetic facilitation provided by muscle spindles, demonstrated neither of these effects. Conversely, the intercostal muscles depend greatly on such facilitation, as do the pectoral and limb muscles during thermal shivering.

Amyl Nitrite↗

PubMed1985

The identification of brainstem neurones projecting to thoracic respiratory motoneurones in the cat as demonstrated by retrograde transport of HRP.

Brainstem neurones which project to the immediate vicinity of the spinal motoneurones which supply the intercostal and abdominal respiratory muscles were identified by means of the retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). A combined electrophysiological and histological technique was used in which recording of phasic inspiratory or expiratory motoneurone activity within upper (T3-T4) or lower (T8-T9) thoracic segments was followed by the ion-tophoretic injection of HRP at these recording sites. HRP labelled cells were concentrated in those brainstem regions known to contain phasic respiratory neurones, namely the ventrolateral nucleus of the solitary tract (vl-NTS) or dorsal respiratory group (DRG), the ambiguus complex or ventral respiratory group (VRG) and the parabrachial pontine (PB) nuclei. In 18 cats, 248 cells were labelled in these three respiratory regions of the brainstem while 668 were much more diffusely distributed in other regions of the medulla and pons. The ipsilateral and contralateral contributions within the respiratory regions were respectively; 23%:77% (DRG), 33%:67% (VRG), 95%:5% (PB). These results are considered in the general context of previous electrophysiological and histological findings, but also with particular reference to a related study of the projections from brainstem neurones to the phrenic nucleus [32].

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Cells of origin of corticospinal projections to phrenic and thoracic respiratory motoneurones in the cat as shown by retrograde transport of HRP.

A combined electrophysiological and histological approach was employed to identify neurones within the motor cortex which project to the vicinity of spinal respiratory motoneurones, and which may be involved in the alteration of the pattern of breathing under certain conditions. Recording of respiratory phased activity from phrenic, or from thoracic motoneurones within either the upper (T3-4) or lower (T8-9) segments, was followed by the iontophoretic injection of HRP at these recording sites. After injections within the cervical or thoracic ventral horn, 219 cells were retrogradely labelled in 14 experiments. The majority of these cells (88%) were labelled contralateral to the injection site. Following the injection of HRP into the phrenic nucleus, labelling was observed at two major sites within the anterior sigmoid gyrus (ASG), one along the anterolateral edge of the cruciate sulcus, and the other along the ventrolateral border of the ASG. In contrast, cells labelled after injections into the thoracic ventral grey matter were located more medially within the ASG and the posterior sigmoid gyrus (PSG). The populations of cells labelled following phrenic and thoracic injections overlapped, primarily at the lateral edge of the cruciate sulcus. The somas of labelled cells were pyramidal, round or oval. The mean diameters of cortical cells labelled after injections into the lower or upper thoracic segments were 30.5 +/- 6.2 and 31.5 +/- 5.6 respectively, which were not significantly different in size. However, they were significantly larger than the mean diameter of the cells labelled from injections into the phrenic nucleus (22.7 +/- 4.2 micron).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1984

On the location and size of laryngeal motoneurons in the cat and rabbit.

Motoneurons supplying the posterior crico-arytenoid (PCA), thyro-arytenoid (TA), lateral crico-arytenoid (LCA), and crico-thyroid (CT) laryngeal muscles were localized in the cat, the rabbit, and the 6-week-old kitten by using the technique of intramuscular injection of horseradish peroxidase. Each muscle was found to be innervated by a single, ipsilateral pool of motoneurons, a result which was reliably established only after controlling adventitious spread of the label to nontarget muscles by prior denervation of adjacent musculature. The laryngeal motoneuron column extended in the nucleus ambiguus for a distance of 5-6 mm caudally from the facial nucleus. CT motoneurons were located in the rostral third of this column while the PCA, TA, and LCA motoneurons were located more caudally. These results are in general agreement with earlier degeneration studies (Lawn, '66a; Szentágothai, '43). Although labelled cells were widely dispersed in the nucleus, particularly in the adult cat, a limited amount of topographical structure could still be discerned in the arrangement of recurrent laryngeal nerve motoneurons. In the cat, the PCA pool was located in the ventral part of the recurrent laryngeal nerve representation and did not extend as far caudally as the TA or LCA pools; the LCA pool was located in the caudal and dorsomedial part of the recurrent laryngeal nerve pool; TA motoneurons appeared to overlap the PCA and LCA pools on all three anatomical planes. TA motoneurons were more numerous than PCA or LCA motoneurons, the numbers of cells in the three pools being estimated at 170, 111, and 112, respectively. In the cat bilateral labelling of different pools pointed to certain differences in morphology between cells from these pools and also suggested a functional basis for such differences. The mean soma diameter for the PCA and CT motoneurons was each significantly smaller than that for the TA and LCA motoneurons. The rabbit data were similar. The findings on motoneuron morphology are considered in relation to anatomical and physiological characteristics known to have been established for individual laryngeal muscles and with which they appear to be consistent.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Brainstem projections to the phrenic nucleus: a HRP study in the cat.

Brainstem neurones which project to the phrenic nucleus were identified using retrogradely transported horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a marker. Following iontophoretic injection of HRP into the phrenic nucleus, labelled cells were encountered throughout large areas of the medulla and pons, but occurred with characteristic high densities in those regions known to contain phasic respiratory neurones: namely, the ventrolateral solitary tract nucleus (vl-NTS), known as the dorsal respiratory group (DRG), the ambiguus complex or ventral respiratory group (VRG) and the parabrachial pontine nuclei (BCM-KF). In 12 cats a total of 1540 cells was identified within these regions, the relative contralateral and ipsilateral contributions were respectively 72%:28% (vl-NTS), 65%:35% for the ambiguus complex, and 5%:95% (BCM-KF). In addition, labelled cells, predominantly ipsilateral, were observed in the pontine and medullary reticular formation and the vestibular nuclei. The labelled cells of the DRG had round, oval or triangular perikarya. Their mean soma diameter was 18.3 micrometers. The HRP-positive cells of the VRG had slightly larger somas (mean 21.2 micrometers) and they were fusiform and triangular. The neurones labelled in the BCM-KF nuclei were more heterogeneous with a mean soma size of 14.9 micrometers. The bilateral projections to the phrenic nucleus from the DRG and the VRG, and the predominantly ipsilateral projection from the BCM-KF are discussed in relation to current electrophysiological and autoradiographic findings.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

The source of the respiratory drive to nasolabialis motoneurones in the rabbit; a HRP study.

Lower brainstem projections to the motoneurones of the nasolabialis muscles, which show rhythmic respiratory-phased activity were studied in the rabbit using the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) technique. The nasolabial motoneurone pool was first identified by the retrograde transport of HRP injected intramuscularly, and by antidromic stimulation and microelectrode recording techniques. The results from subsequent iontophoretic injection of HRP into the lateral division of the facial nucleus (the nasolabial pool) produced significant ipsilateral labelling in the nucleus ambiguus-retroambigualis (NA-NRA) complex. Labelled cells, predominantly ipsilateral, were also consistently observed in the parvocellular reticular nucleus. Smaller numbers of labelled cells were identified in the ventral, dorsal and gigantocellular nuclei of the reticular formation on both sides of the medulla. A large proportion of HRP-labelled cells of the NRA was located in the caudal medulla where the presence of propriobulbar and bulbospinal respiratory neurones has been well documented. These results suggest that some neurones of the NA-NRA complex may serve as upper respiratory motoneurones to the nasolabial musculature.

Animals↗

PubMed1980

CO2-sensitivity of stretch receptors in the marsupial lung.

Discharge activity in single fibres of the vagus of the brush tailed possum was examined for evidence of pulmonary CO2 receptors by artificially ventilating the lungs with gas mixtures which preserved, abolished or reversed the normal tidal oscillation in FCO2. No specific CO2 receptors were observed. A quantitative study of the CO2 sensitivity of thirteen pulmonary stretch receptors was carried out after stabilizing FACO2 at high (6.4-7.8%), low (1.4-2.5%) as well as intermediate values. In addition receptor responses to a series of sustained augmenting inflations were examined at different intrapulmonary CO2 concentrations. All thirteen receptors showed CO2 sensitivity, their frequency of discharge being reduced by hypercapnia and increased by hypocapnia. Five were low threshold receptors which discharged throughout the ventilatory cycle while the remaining eight were only phasically active. High threshold receptors were more sensitive to FACO2 changes than were low threshold units. The results from the series of augmenting inflations suggest that it is the receptor's threshold, but not its sensitivity, to tracheal pressure that is modulated by the co2 signal.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1978

Computerized measurement of pulmonary conductance and elastic recoil.

A system devloped for on-line measurement of transpulmonary pressure, gas flow at the mouth, change in expired volume and plethysmograph volume uses a minicomputer to control a multiplexed analog to digital converter. The computer identified samples as static or dynamic values by monitoring a voltage activating a solenoid valve, used to close the airway. Analysis of these samples by other task-specific programs yielded the static deflation pressure-volume (PV) curve, the conductance-recoil pressure, GL-Pst(L), relationship and the maximum expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curve; the MEF-Pst(L) curve and conductance upstream from the equal pressure point were derived. The PV relationship was represented by a fourth-order polynomial and the GL-Pst(L) relationship by linear regression. In 11 subjects the results obtained using on-line data collection, compared with manual analysis of oscillograph recordings, showed small differences in static compliance and in the maximum Pst(L); but overall the two methods showed excellent agreement. Besides advantages of speed and objectivity, this system facilitates a more rigorous analytical treatment of elastic recoil and conductance.

Asthma↗

PubMed1977

Human tactile detection thresholds: modification by inputs from specific tactile receptor classes.

1. Human detection thresholds for a vibratory stimulus applied to the volar surface of the index finger were examined under conditions where afferents from specific tactile receptor classes were simultaneously activated from the thenar eminence. The experiments were designed to test whether stimuli which have been shown previously to induce afferent inhibition of ;tactile' neurones in the cuneate nucleus of the cat could modify human subjective performance in a tactile detection task. Conditioning stimuli to the thenar eminence were usually of three forms; steady indentation to engage slowly adapting tactile receptors; 300 Hz vibration to engage Pacinian corpuscles; and 30 Hz vibration to engage the intradermal, rapidly adapting tactile receptors which are thought to be Meissner's corpuscles.2. In ten subjects the mean detection threshold for a 30 Hz test stimulus in the absence of conditioning stimulation was 8.6 +/- 1.0 mum (S.E.). Detection thresholds were increased substantially in the presence of a 300 Hz, 100 mum conditioning stimulus (mean increase 11.1 +/- 2.0 mum), whereas minor or insignificant effects were seen with conditioning stimuli consisting of (a) 30 Hz, 100 mum (mean increase 1.4 +/- 0.8 mum), (b) steady indentation, 1.5 mm in amplitude (mean increase 1.3 +/- 0.7 mum) or (c) 300 Hz, 100 mum to the contralateral thenar eminence (mean increase 0.4 +/- 0.5 mum).3. The 300 Hz conditioning stimulus to the ipsilateral thenar eminence caused a marked increase in detection thresholds at all test stimulus frequencies over the range 10-450 Hz. The effects of the conditioning stimulation therefore operated on inputs from Pacinian corpuscles, which are responsible for vibration detection at 80-450 Hz, and on inputs from the intradermal, rapidly adapting receptors which are responsible for vibration detection at 10-80 Hz.4. The band width of conditioning vibratory frequencies which was effective at amplitudes of 100 mum in bringing about increases in detection threshold extended from 50-80 Hz to 300 Hz, the maximum tested.5. Whereas amplitudes of 1-2 mum produced clear increases in detection thresholds with conditioning stimuli of 300 Hz, amplitudes of > 200 mum were needed at 30 Hz.6. The observed elevations in detection threshold are consistent with an afferent-induced inhibitory action exerted at synaptic relays of the sensory pathway by tactile inputs arising exclusively or predominantly from Pacinian corpuscles.

Adult↗

PubMed1975

Central and peripheral neural respiratory activity in the mature sheep foetus and newborn lamb.

Activity from respiratory neurones in the medulla, the phrenic and intercostal nerves was recorded in 25 foetal sheep, exteriorized a few days before term from ewes given a spinal anaesthetic, and from nine newborn lambs, anaesthetized with an allobarbitone-urethane mixture. In 12 foetuses, there was little or no sustained respiratory activity, central activity consisting of tonically discharging expiratory and other neurones and silent inspiratory neurones. In the remaining 13 foetuses, respiratory activity was periodic or continuous and it was possible to confirm that the motor component of the respiratory reflex was mature, that apnoea was not due to medullary depression, that foetal respiration was unaffected by chemoreceptor stimulation, by noise, by light, by electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve and only slightly by inflation or deflation of the lungs. All these stimuli were effective shortly after birth. Occlusion of the umbilical cord caused poorly sustained gasps in the "non-breathing" foetuses and in the "breathing" foetuses, abolition of inspiratory and expiratory activity in the medulla and the onset of gasps and flattening of the electro-corticogram. Rhythmic respiration resumed after release of the cord with a latency which varied with the duration and severity of the asphyxia. This type of respiratory depression was not reflex but due to a direct, central action of hypoxia. The sequence of respiratory events at birth is discussed.

Animals↗