Issue Archive

Effects of stimulation of ventromedian area of nucleus hypoglossus on respiratory rhythm in rabbits

Dong Haiheng, Liu Lei

Department of Physiology, Shandong Medical University. Jinan,Shandong

Abstract

The effects of electrical and chemical stimulation of ventromedian area of nucleus hypoglossus (VMNH) on the electrical activities of diaphragm and genioglossus were studied in 25 urethane-anesthetized, vagotomized rabbits. A 6 s train of electrical stimulation caused a complete cessation of diaphragmatic activities and an excitation of genioglossal activities. A 0.1 s train of stimulation of the nucleus during the middle or late inspiratory phase could elicit an inspiratory off-switch effect. Microinjection of L-glutamate into VMNH also produced an inhibition of diaphragmatic activities. The above observations suggest that VMNH activity exerts a regulatory effect on respiratory rhythm, and this effect may be involved in the central mechanism of swallowing reflex.

Key words: Nucleus hypoglossus;Diaphragm;Genioglossus;Respiratory rhythm;Swallowing center

Received: 　　Accepted:

Corresponding author: 　　E-mail:

Citing This Article：

Dong Haiheng, Liu Lei. Effects of stimulation of ventromedian area of nucleus hypoglossus on respiratory rhythm in rabbits. Acta Physiol Sin 1994; 46 (3): (in Chinese with English abstract).