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Ontogeny of sleep/wake and cardiorespiratory behavior in unanesthetized piglets
S C Scott1, J D Inman, I R Moss
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9063.
Insights
Sleep-wake states and respiratory control mature with age in piglets. Respiratory muscle activity and coordination change, influenced by sleep state, age, and gender, impacting developmental respiratory control.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Developmental Biology
- Sleep Science
Background:
- Respiratory control undergoes significant development during early life.
- Sleep architecture and physiological parameters change substantially from infancy to adulthood.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for identifying potential respiratory issues in developing organisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related changes in sleep-wake states and cardiorespiratory control in piglets.
- To examine the influence of age and gender on respiratory muscle activity and coordination during sleep and wakefulness.
- To elucidate the developmental trajectory of respiratory control mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Chronic recording of electrocorticogram, electrooculograms, and electromyograms (EMG) of submental, diaphragm (EMGdi), and posterior cricoarytenoid (EMGpca) muscles.
- Continuous monitoring of heart rate, arterial pressure, pH, and gas tensions in young and older piglets.
- Analysis of sleep-wake state distribution, muscle activity patterns, and cardiorespiratory parameters.
Main Results:
- Significant age-related differences were observed in sleep-wake state distribution and cardiorespiratory parameters.
- Respiratory frequency decreased with age, while EMGdi and EMGpca duration and EMGpca amplitude increased.
- Active sleep in young piglets showed distinct EMGpca characteristics and prolonged diminished muscle activity (DMA), influenced by age and gender.
Conclusions:
- Developmental changes in sleep influence respiratory control, with distinct patterns observed in young versus older piglets.
- Age and gender significantly impact respiratory muscle coordination and the occurrence of DMA.
- These findings offer insights into the subtle influences of gender and sleep on developmental respiratory control.
Abstract:
Young and older piglets (2-15, 25-35 days old) underwent chronic recording of electrocorticogram, vertical and horizontal electrooculograms, electromyograms of submental muscles, diaphragm (EMGdi) and posterior cricoarytenoid (EMGpca), and heart rate, arterial pressure, pH and gas tensions. With age, (1) the distribution of percent time spent in various sleep-wake states differed; (2) heart rate decreased in all S/W, arterial pressure increased in wakefulness (W), transitional sleep (TS) and quiet sleep (QS); (3) respiratory frequency decreased, EMGdi and EMGpca duration and EMGpca amplitude increased in all S/W, EMGdi amplitude decreased in TS and QS and rate of rise of EMGdi and EMGpca decreased in W, TS and QS. Active sleep was characterized by smaller normalized EMGpca amplitudes in the young, short EMGpca to EMGdi intervals in both ages and predominance of prolonged diminished muscle activity (DMA) of either muscle. Discoordination between EMGpca and EMGdi activation and the occurrence of DMA were influenced by youth and male gender. These results provide insight into subtle expressions of gender and sleep influences on developmental respiratory control.