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The Journal of Neuroscience, March 25, 2009, 29(12):3824-3832; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0607-09.2009

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Behavioral/Systems/Cognitive
The Nucleus Retroambiguus Control of Respiration

Hari H. Subramanian and Gert Holstege

Center for Uroneurology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Gert Holstege at the above address. Email: G.Holstege{at}med.umcg.nl

The role of the nucleus retroambiguus (NRA) in the context of respiration control has been subject of debate for considerable time. To solve this problem, we chemically (using D, L-homocysteic acid) stimulated the NRA in unanesthetized precollicularly decerebrated cats and studied the respiratory effect via simultaneous measurement of tracheal pressure and electromyograms of diaphragm, internal intercostal (IIC), cricothyroid (CT), and external oblique abdominal (EO) muscles. NRA-stimulation 0–1 mm caudal to the obex resulted in recruitment of IIC muscle and reduction in respiratory frequency. NRA-stimulation 1–3 mm caudal to the obex produced vocalization along with CT activation and slight increase in tracheal pressure, but no change in respiratory frequency. NRA-stimulation 3–5 mm caudal to the obex produced CT muscle activation and an increase in respiratory frequency, but no vocalization. NRA-stimulation 5–8 mm caudal to the obex produced EO muscle activation and reduction in respiratory frequency. A change to the inspiratory effort was never observed, regardless of which NRA part was stimulated. The results demonstrate that NRA does not control eupneic inspiration but consists of topographically separate groups of premotor interneurons each producing detailed motor actions. These motor activities have in common that they require changes to eupneic breathing. Different combination of activation of these premotor neurons determines the final outcome, e.g., vocalization, vomiting, coughing, sneezing, mating posture, or child delivery. Higher brainstem regions such as the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) decides which combination of NRA neurons are excited. In simple terms, the NRA is the piano, the PAG one of the piano players.

Received Feb. 5, 2009; accepted Feb. 20, 2009.

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Gert Holstege at the above address. Email: G.Holstege{at}med.umcg.nl
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