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Effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blockade on breathing pattern in newborn cat
P Schweitzer1, O Pierrefiche, A S Foutz
1Laboratoire de Physiologie Nerveuse, C.N.R.S., Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Brain Research. Developmental Brain Research
|November 1, 1990
Abstract:
We gave newborn kittens the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blocker MK-801 systemically while recording their breathing patterns by the barometric method. Unlike pentobarbital, MK-801 at an anaesthetic dose increased the relative length of inspiration within the respiratory cycle. The section of both vagus nerves under MK-801 produced apneustic breathing, whereas vagotomy under pentobarbital had no such effect. We conclude that the central inspiratory-termination mechanism mediated through NMDA receptors and the vagally-mediated mechanism that independently 'switches off' inspiration are both functional at birth.