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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
09:43
Functional and Morphological Assessment of Diaphragm Innervation by Phrenic Motor Neurons
Published on: May 25, 2015
Approaching hurricane effects on phrenic motor plasticity: the Florida experience
Alexandria B Marciante1, Alec L E Butenas1, Kayla A Burrowes1
1Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center, Department of Physical Therapy and McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States.
Journal of Neurophysiology
|July 13, 2026
Summary
Physiological stress, like hurricanes, disrupts respiratory motor plasticity and phrenic nerve activity in rats. Stress hormones may be responsible for this instability, impacting respiratory control studies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Physiology
- Respiratory Control
Background:
- Phrenic long-term facilitation (pLTF) is a key respiratory motor plasticity.
- Moderate acute intermittent hypoxia (mAIH) typically elicits pLTF.
- Factors like aging and inflammation impair mAIH-induced pLTF, but stress effects are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of physiological stress on respiratory motor plasticity.
- To examine phrenic nerve activity and stress hormone levels during hurricane events.
Main Methods:
- Observations of anesthetized adult male Sprague-Dawley rats during the 2024 Florida hurricane season.
- Monitoring phrenic nerve activity and measuring serum stress hormone levels.
Main Results:
- Hurricanes approaching Florida were associated with unstable phrenic nerve activity.
- Spontaneous neural apneas and increased serum stress hormones were observed.
- These effects mimic previously anecdotally observed stress-induced disruptions.
Conclusions:
- Physiological stress, exemplified by hurricanes, negatively impacts respiratory motor plasticity.
- Elevated stress hormones likely contribute to phrenic nerve instability.
- Stress factors must be considered in respiratory control and plasticity research.
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