The conditional nature of the “Central Rhythm Generator” and the production of episodic breathing

Abstract Episodic breathing patterns have been observed in species of all vertebrate classes under certain conditions and/or at certain times in development. This breathing pattern can be considered part of a continuum between no breathing and continuous breathing. In birds and mammals it is also ge...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Respiratory physiology & neurobiology 2009-08, Vol.168 (1), p.179-187
Main Authors: Fong, Angelina Y, Zimmer, M. Beth, Milsom, William K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Brain Chemistry - physiology
Brainstem
Breathing pattern
Cannabinoids - blood
Carbon Dioxide - blood
Episodic breathing
Humans
Interbreath interval
Medical Education
Medulla Oblongata - cytology
Medulla Oblongata - physiology
Neurons - physiology
Periodicity
Pulmonary/Respiratory
Respiration
Respiratory Center - physiology
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Summary:Abstract Episodic breathing patterns have been observed in species of all vertebrate classes under certain conditions and/or at certain times in development. This breathing pattern can be considered part of a continuum between no breathing and continuous breathing. In birds and mammals it is also generally part of a developmental continuum in which episodic breathing occurs early in development and rarely in adults. Production of this pattern appears to be an intrinsic property of the medullary rhythm generating mechanism (possibly due to interactions between different rhythm generating sites) that is stabilized by pontine or midbrain inputs and, in intact animals, is primarily regulated by afferent inputs from chemoreceptors and pulmonary stretch receptors; i.e. there is a hierarchy of control. In all cases, episodes appear to be produced by quantal expression of a fundamental rhythm. At present NO, GABAA and glycine mediated processes, and possibly μ-opioid receptor mediated processes, are implicated in the clustering of breaths into episodes. The inter-breath interval, which may occur at either the end of the inspiratory or the expiratory phase in different species, is the primary regulated variable in this pattern. The biological significance of clustering breaths into episodes may relate to reducing the oxidative cost of breathing, enhancing gas exchange or minimizing oxidative damage to tissues.
ISSN:1569-9048
1878-1519
DOI:10.1016/j.resp.2009.05.012