Ventilatory effects of the interaction between phrenic and limb muscle afferents

We studied the effects on ventilation and ventilatory muscle activation of stimulation of the central ends of the left phrenic and gastrocnemius nerves separately and concurrently in 10 spontaneously breathing, alpha-chloralose anaesthetized dogs. The nerves were stimulated for 1 min, at a frequency of 40 Hz and pulse duration of 1 ms. The phrenic nerve was stimulated at 20 and 40 times twitch threshold (TT). During these stimulation periods ventilation increased by 39% and 79% of control values, respectively. The gastrocnemius nerve was stimulated at 20 times TT. This produced a 90% increase in ventilation. Stimulation of either nerve resulted in increases in the activity of the right diaphragm, parasternal intercostal and alae nasi muscles comparable in magnitude to the increase in tidal volume. The activities of the genioglossus and transversus abdominis muscle increased to a much greater extent than did the other muscles under all conditions. In contrast, triangularis sterni activity remained unchanged during stimulation of either nerve. The phrenic nerve was then stimulated at 40 times TT for 1 min with superimposed gastrocnemius nerve stimulation (20 times TT) during the last 30 s. Ventilation had risen by 66% after 30 s of phrenic nerve stimulation. With the addition of gastrocnemius nerve stimulation, ventilation rose by a further 84% for a total increase of 150% of the control value. Mathematical summation of the responses to individual nerve stimulation at these intensities predicted a 156% increase in ventilation. Similar degrees of summation were found with respect to respiratory muscle activation. We conclude that the interaction between phrenic and limb muscle (gastrocnemius) afferent is additive with respect to their effects on ventilation.