Possible alterations in brain monoamine metabolism during hypoxia-induced tachypnea in cats

In carotid body-denervated cats, moderate hypoxia, or even normoxia when compared to hyperoxia, provokes a significant depression of the respiratory output. This is observed in conscious or anesthetized or decerebrated animals. On the other hand, more severe hypoxia induces tachypnea (hypoxic tachypnea of Miller and Tenney, Respir. Physiol. 23: 31-39, 1975) in conscious cats, whereas the same hypoxia is followed by marked respiratory depression or apnea in the anesthetized or decerebrated animals. Hypoxic tachypnea can be partly or completely reversed by injection of dopa or xanthines such as caffeine or aminophylline. This suggests that alterations in brain monoamine metabolism by hypoxia may be responsible for the alterations in suprapontine respiratory control systems, resulting the tachypnea. Mild hypercapnia can also reverse hypoxic tachypnea. It is concluded that the ventilatory response to hypoxia of conscious animals results from stimulation of peripheral chemoreceptors, inhibition of brain stem neurons, and finally involvement of suprapontine structures that seems to be mediated by depletion of monoamines.