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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 92/2/457    most recent expphysiol.2006.035931v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by St-John, W. M. Articles by Leiter, J. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by St-John, W. M. Articles by Leiter, J. C. Related Collections Respiratory

¹ Department of Physiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Dartmouth – Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA

High-frequency oscillations may be signatures of the basic mechanisms underlying the neurogenesis of various patterns of automatic ventilatory activity. These high-frequency oscillations in phrenic activity differ greatly in eupnoea and gasping, implying different mechanisms of neurogenesis. In a decerebrate, in situ preparation of the rat, the peak frequency of high-frequency oscillations fell in apneusis following removal of the rostral pons. Following removal of all pons, phrenic discharge had a mixed pattern of gasps and multiple bursts; some of the latter were incrementing, as in eupnoea. Regardless of pattern, peak frequencies were significantly below those which were found during eupnoea, apneusis or gasping of the decerebrate preparation. Results do not support the concept that ‘non-gasping’ rhythmic patterns that can be recorded following a removal of pons are generated by the same mechanisms as those generating eupnoea. Indeed, both pons and medulla appear essential for all aspects of eupnoea to be expressed.

(Received 26 September 2006; accepted after revision 23 November 2006; first published online 30 November 2006)
Corresponding author W. M. St-John: Department of Physiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Dartmouth – Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA. Email: walter.m.stjohn{at}dartmouth.edu

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