Electrophysiologic basis for pontine apneustic center and its role in integration of the Hering-Breuer reflex.

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The role of the neural structures in the middle and lower pons concerned with the control of respiration were studied in cats. The experiments led to these conclusion: the phenomenon of apneusis is a specific respiratory function and not the result of a non-specific facilitatory mechanism; inspiratory neurons displaying activity patterns consistent with being part of a functional apneustic center are found in the area of the nuclei reticularis pontis caudalls and magnocellularis of the midpontine cat; there is an essential pontine station in the brain stem integration of the Hering-Breuer reflex. The pontine inspiratory neurons display activity patterns consistent with being part of that station; a functional Hering-Breuer reflex is not observed in the medullary cat.