Respiratory depression by GABA-ergic drugs in the preterm rabbit

Respiratory parameters were studied in preterm rabbits (gestational age 29 days) after intraperitoneal administration of the GABA-like drugs gamma-hydroxybutyric acid and muscimol. The animals were anaesthetized with 0.7% halothane in oxygen and studied in a closed body plethysmograph. Both drugs induced a decreased respiratory frequency and minute volume. Tidal volume decreased after muscimol, but not after gamma-hydroxybutyric acid administration. The present results indicate that an increased GABA-ergic activity causes respiratory depression in the preterm neonatal rabbit, presumably by an action on central nervous frequency and tidal volume modulating systems. Central GABA neurons may thus be involved in the pathogenesis of neonatal respiratory depression and irregular breathing.