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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 92/6/1023    most recent expphysiol.2007.039230v1 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 Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kong, S. Articles by Wang, Y. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kong, S. Articles by Wang, Y. Related Collections Cardiovascular control

¹ Research Centre of Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, China ² Department of Pharmacology, University College London, Hampstead Campus, Rowland Hill Street, Hampstead, London NW3 2PF, UK ³ Institute of Brain Science and State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China

Cardiac vagal preganglionic neurones (CVPNs) show respiratory modulation in the nucleus ambiguus but not in the dorsal vagal nucleus. Both types of neurones can be activated by pulmonary C fibre afferents. Another brainstem area that has been identified as containing CVPNs is the intermediate zone between the dorsal vagal nucleus and nucleus ambiguus. Experiments were carried out in -chloralose-anaesthetized cats to determine the physiological properties of these CVPNs and their responses to pulmonary C fibre afferent activation. Seven CVPN axons in the right cardiac vagal branches were identified and found to be localized in the intermediate zone with a conduction velocity of between 1.2 and 1.6 m s^–1, in the C fibre range. These seven CVPNs [either showing spontaneous activity (n = 1) or having activity induced by DL-homocysteic acid applied ionophoretically (n = 3)] were neither respiratory modulated nor did they receive a baroreceptor input, thus being similar to those found in the dorsal vagal nucleus. Right atrial injections of phenylbiguanide excited all four CVPNs tested. In conclusion, CVPNs located in the intermediate zone have similar properties to those in the dorsal vagal nucleus but not the nucleus ambiguus.

(Received 27 June 2007; accepted after revision 20 July 2007; first published online 20 July 2007)
Corresponding author Y. Wang: Institutes of Brain Science and State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Fudan University, 138 Yi Xue Yuan Road, Shanghai 200032, China.  Email: yunwang{at}fudan.edu.cn