Characteristics of an inspiration-augmenting reflex in anesthetized cats

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Abstract
Overinflation or release from deflation of the lungs in anesthetized cats induced a vagally mediated, inspiration-augmenting reflex, characterized by a sudden phrenic motor discharge and an increase in rate and depth of inspiration. It resulted in an increase in end-expiratory volume and lung compliance. In a series of sinusoidal inflations, the reflex could exhibit summation to occur on any single inflation, but having occurred, was temporarily refractory to further inflations. The spontaneous deep breath was shown to be the same reflex, being vagally mediated, and similarly related to changes in mechanical properties of the lungs. The effective stimulus was shown to be a function of velocity and duration of inflation, while the refractoriness shown by the reflex was related to the accompanying increase in end-expiratory volume. The inspiration-augmenting reflex, by increasing functional residual capacity and compliance, was presumed to open alveolar units. It may interact with the Hering-Breuer inspiration-limiting reflex in controlling the respiratory cycle. Submitted on January 8, 1962

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