Chronically instrumented goats are a viable model to further elucidate the role of pontine nuclei in the control of breathing in both the awake and sleep states

• Published in: The FASEB journal 2006-03, Vol.20 (4), p.A783-A784
• Main Authors: Bonis, J M, Davis, S, Opansky, C, Krause, K, Martino, P, Pan, L, Feroah, T, Qian, B, Forster, H V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0892-6638; 1530-6860
• DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.A783-c

Controversies regarding the role of pontine nuclei in the control of breathing and paucity of studies during physiologic conditions have prompted us to chronically implant microtubules into the pons of 2 goats, one caudally (bilateral) and one rostrally (unilateral). Both goats recovered uneventfully and 3 weeks thereafter resting PaCO2 and CO2 sensitivity were near normal. However, both goats had abnormal post‐inspiratory diaphragm activity following implantation. Injection of atropine (500nL, 5mM) during the day decreased CO2 sensitivity without altering resting PaCO2. Dialysis of atropine (50mM) at night disrupted activation patterns of respiratory muscles and depressed and destabilized breathing which was state independent. Injection of ibotenic acid during the day also acutely destabilized breathing and disrupted coordination of respiratory muscles, transiently altered PaCO2 and CO2 sensitivity, and chronically altered REM generating mechanisms at night. Subsequent histological analysis of the pons of both goats implicates the medial parabrachial nucleus in the caudally implanted goat and the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus in the rostrally implanted goat. These findings suggest that chronically instrumented goats are a viable model to further elucidate the role of pontine nuclei in the control of breathing. Supported by NIH HL‐25739 and by the Department of Veterans Affairs.