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The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the rostralventrolateral medulla (rVLM) on respiratory- related activity of the recurrentlaryngeal nerve (RLN). The animal was decerebrated, vagatomized paralyzed and ventilated artificially. Activities of the phrenic (PNA) and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLNA) were monitored at normocapnia or hypercapnia both in hyperoxia. The rVLM was activated by electrical current (12.5 to 50 mA, 80 Hz, 0.5 ms) or glutamate (50 mM, 30-60 nl). Changes of PNA and RLNA are observed. In response to current of 12.5, 25 and 50 mA delivered to the rVLM, PNA were reduced to 93.3%, 74.9% (p<0.01) and 50.3% (p<0.01) of control respectively. Meanwhile, inspiratory RLNA (iRLNA) were reduced to 85.1% (p<0.05), 71.6% (p<0.01) and 54.7% (p<0.01) of control and expiratory RLNA (eRLNA) are reduced to 84.4% (p<0.05), 75.5% (p<0.01) and 63.6% (p<0.01) of control. With glutamate microinjection into the rVLMs, PNA, inspiratory and expiratory RLNA were decreased to 65.4% (p<0.01), 75.2% (p<0.01) and 53.3% (p<0.01) of control. This inhibition of the rVLM upon PNA and RLNA was attenuated by high level of FETCO2. Hence, at mild hypercapnia ( FETCO2=0.06), 25 mA delivery to the rVLM produced a decrease of PNA to 83.4% (p<0.05), iRLNA to 78.5% (p<0.01) and eRLNA to 62.8% of control. 50 mA delivery to the rVLM produced a decrease of PNA to 56.3% (p<0.01), iRLNA to 53.5% (p<0.01) and eRLNA to 43.9% (p<0.01) of control. When FETCO2 was further raised to 0.09, current of 25 mA excited to the rVLM could produce a decrease of PNA to 89.5% (p<0.05), iRLNA to 87.2% and eRLNA to 77.4% (p<0.05) of control. 50 mA delivery to the rVLM produced a decrease of PNA to 65.5% (p<0.01), iRLNA to 59.2% (p<0.01) and eRLNA to 44.3% (p<0.01) of control. These results suggest that the rVLM may play an important role in the modulation mechanism of upper airway resistance.
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