[The effect of cerebral glutamate enhanced level on the respiratory system of anesthetized rats]

A cerebral level of glutamate is one of the determinants of the central mechanisms of respiratory control. It had been hypothesized that endogenous glutamate could have a modulating effect on the functioning of mechanisms for neural control of respiratory function. Acute experiments on spontaneuosly breathing, urethane-anesthetized rats had been performed to study the respiratory effects of cerebroventricular microinjection of glutamate. It has been shown that a higher level of cerebral glutamate increases breathing rate and electrical activity of the diaphragm, and strengthen the Hering-Breuer reflex. These effects had a clear character of the phase. The results confirm the hypothesis suggested and prove that the increase in cerebral levels of glutamate leads to the activation of glutamate receptors of various types.