Reflex effects and receptor responses to upper airway pressure and flow stimuli in developing puppies

We studied the changes in breathing pattern due to pressure and airflow stimuli applied to isolated upper airway in nine 1- to 14-day-old and six 29- to 35-day-old anesthetized puppies breathing through a tracheostomy. Negative-pressure and flow, both inspiratory and expiratory, altered the breathing pattern only in the 1- to 14-day-old puppies, whereas positive pressure was ineffective in both age groups. Negative pressure caused apnea in 12% of the trials, expiratory flow in 18%, and inspiratory flow in 21%. When apnea did not occur there was a significant prolongation of inspiratory and expiratory time and a decrease of tidal volume of the first breath following the application of negative pressures. Section of the superior laryngeal nerves abolished the responses to pressure and flow. In nine 1- to 14-day-old and four 29- to 35-day-old puppies we recorded the activity of single units of the superior laryngeal nerves. We identified specialized receptors responding to pressure (68.5%), flow (2.7%), and contraction of upper airway muscles (drive, 28.8%). All types of receptors had a prevalent inspiratory-related activity. In the younger age group the discharge rate of pressure receptors at comparable negative pressures was lower than in older puppies. The strong inhibitory influences originating from the upper airway in the early stages of development presumably reflect different integrative properties of the central nervous system.