Chemoreceptor function and sleep state in apnea

Resting ventilation and ventilatory responses to 100% oxygen and to 5% carbon dioxide in air were measured in REM and non-REM sleep in post-neonatal infants. Normal controls were compared to infants with prolonged apnea and to siblings of sudden infant death victims. No significant differences in ventilatory responses were found between the groups. We conclude that apnea may occur in infants whose central and peripheral chemoreceptor activity is normal while they are breathing.