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The Journal of Neuroscience, November 19, 2008, 28(47):12274-12283; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4168-08.2008

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Behavioral/Systems/Cognitive
The Midbrain Periaqueductal Gray Control of Respiration

Hari H. Subramanian,¹ Ron J. Balnave,² and Gert Holstege¹

¹Center for Uroneurology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands, and ²School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, New South Wales 1825, Australia

Correspondence should be addressed to Gert Holstege, Center for Uroneurology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Postbus 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. Email: g.holstege{at}med.umcg.nl

The midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) organizes basic survival behavior, which includes respiration. How the PAG controls respiration is not known. We studied the PAG control of respiration by injecting D,L-homocysteic acid in the PAG in unanesthetized precollicularly decerebrated cats. Injections in different parts of the PAG caused different respiratory effects. Stimulation in the dorsomedial PAG induced slow and deep breathing and dyspnea. Stimulation in the dorsolateral PAG resulted in active breathing and tachypnea consistent with the respiratory changes during fright and flight. Stimulation in the medial part of lateral PAG caused inspiratory apneusis. Stimulation in lateral parts of the lateral and ventrolateral PAG produced respiratory changes associated with vocalization (mews, alternating mews and hisses, or hisses). D,L-Homocysteic acid injections in the caudal ventrolateral PAG induced irregular breathing. These results demonstrate that the PAG exerts a strong influence on respiration, suggesting that it serves as the behavioral modulator of breathing.

Key words: midbrain; emotional breathing control; pattern generation; periaqueductal gray; brainstem; respiration

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Received Sept. 2, 2008; revised Sept. 25, 2008; accepted Oct. 1, 2008.

Correspondence should be addressed to Gert Holstege, Center for Uroneurology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Postbus 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. Email: g.holstege{at}med.umcg.nl

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. H. Subramanian and G. Holstege The Nucleus Retroambiguus Control of Respiration J. Neurosci., March 25, 2009; 29(12): 3824 - 3832. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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