Excitatory lung reflex may stress inspiratory muscle by suppressing expiratory muscle activity

Recently, a vagally mediated excitatory lung reflex (ELR) causing neural hyperpnea and tachypnea was identified. Because ventilation is regulated through both inspiratory and expiratory processes, we investigated the effects of the ELR on these two processes simultaneously. In anesthetized, open-chest, and artificially ventilated rabbits, we recorded phrenic nerve activity and abdominal muscle activity to assess the breathing pattern when the ELR was evoked by directly injecting hypertonic saline (8.1%, 0.1 ml) into lung parenchyma. Activation of the ELR stimulated inspiratory activity, which was exhibited by increasing amplitude, burst rate, and duty cycle of the phrenic activity (by 22 +/- 4, 33 +/- 9, and 57 +/- 11%, respectively; n = 13; P < 0.001), but suppressed expiratory muscle activity. The expiratory muscle became silent in most cases. On average, the amplitude of expiratory muscle activity decreased by 88 +/- 5% (P < 0.002). The suppression reached the peak at 6.9 +/- 1 s and lasted for 200 s (median). Injection of H(2)O(2) into the lung parenchyma produced similar responses. By suppressing expiration, the ELR produces a shift in the workload from expiratory muscle to inspiratory muscle. Therefore, we conclude that the ELR may contribute to inspiratory muscle fatigue, not only by directly increasing the inspiratory activity but also by suppressing expiratory activity.