Intracellular recording from respiratory neurones in the perfused 'in situ' rat brain

The study describes an arterially perfused in situ rat brain preparation, which uses an 'open circuit' flow of blood substitute with or without an oxygen carrier (2% perfluorotributylamine). The respiratory motor output was recorded from the phrenic and hypoglossal nerves, and could be maintained for up to 11 h from the start of perfusion (temperature of perfusate: 27-30 degrees C). The preparation allowed stable intracellular recordings from respiratory neurons in the brain stem and cervical spinal cord, and should be suitable for other studies which cannot be performed in standard whole animal models. The advantages of this approach compared with other in vitro or perfused in situ preparations are discussed.