Diaphragm stimulation elicits phrenic afferent-induced neuromuscular plasticity

We hypothesized that activation of phrenic afferents induces diaphragm motor plasticity. In anesthetized and spontaneously breathing rats we delivered 40 Hz, low threshold (twitch and 1.5X twitch threshold), inspiratory-triggered stimulation to the left hemidiaphragm for 30 min to activate ipsilateral phrenic afferents. Diaphragm amplitude ipsilateral and contralateral to stimulation were increased for 60 min following both currents compared to time controls not receiving stimulation. Diaphragm stimulation was repeated in laminectomy controls or following a unilateral C3-C6 dorsal rhizotomy to eliminate phrenic afferent volleys. Laminectomy controls expressed neuromuscular plasticity post-stimulation. In contrast, ipsilateral and contralateral diaphragm amplitude following dorsal rhizotomy was lower than laminectomy controls and no different than time controls, suggesting diaphragm motor plasticity was not induced post-rhizotomy. Our results indicate that diaphragm stimulation induces a novel form of plasticity in the phrenic motor system which requires phrenic afferent activation. Respiratory motor plasticity elicited by diaphragm stimulation may have value as a therapeutic strategy to improve diaphragm output in neuromuscular conditions.