Changes induced by severe hypoxia in respiratory defence reflexes in anaesthetized cats

The authors studied the effects of progressive isobaric hypoxia (FO2 = 0.11, 0.07, 0.06, 0.05, 0.04 and 0.03) on respiratory defence reflexes elicited by mechanical stimulation of the airways in 10 pentobarbital-anaesthetized cats. The intensity of the expiration reflex was already significantly reduced at a hypoxia level of only FO2 = 0.11; the intensity of cough also showed a tendency to decrease. The number of efforts and the intensity of both tracheobronchial (TB) and laryngopharyngeal (LPh) cough fell significantly in hypoxia of FO2 = 0.07. On an average, cough could no longer be elicited at PaO2 = 2.0 +/- 0.06 kPa. The aspiration reflex was found to be the most resistant to hypoxia, and could still be elicited just before hypoxic apnoea developed. During hypoxia with FO2 ranging from 0.21 to 0.06, minute ventilation increased, while the intensity of respiratory defence reflexes diminished. TB cough could not be elicited during hypoxia until the breathing was depressed. It can be seen from the results that the regulatory mechanisms responsible for the intensity of respiratory defence reflexes are less resistant to the consequences of an inadequate systemic oxygen supply than the mechanisms controlling ventilation.