Pacemaker behavior of respiratory neurons in medullary slices from neonatal rat

1. We have hypothesized that pacemaker neurons in the pre-Bötzinger complex (pre-BötC) form the kernel for respiratory rhythm generation. A prediction of this hypothesis is that oscillatory behavior in some respiratory neurons could persist in the absence of synaptic transmission. In this study we used extracellular recording of neuronal activity in slice preparations from neonatal rat medulla that generate respiratory rhythm in vitro to determine 1) whether pacemaker properties are present in pre-BötC and unique to respiratory neurons, 2) whether pacemaker properties are common to all respiratory neurons, and 3) the spatiotemporal patterns of pacemaker neuron activity. 2. Whole cell recordings from respiratory neurons verified that bathing the slices in a low-Ca2+/high-Mg2+ solution (low-Ca2+ solution) eliminated endogenous respiratory synaptic inputs and electrically evoked synaptic inputs. 3. Sixty-three neurons spontaneously generated rhythmic bursts of action potentials in low-Ca2+ solution. After we switched to control solution to reactivate the respiratory network, these neurons were classified on the basis of their spike discharge patterns relative to the respiratory cycle as: 1) inspiratory (I) neurons (n = 41), 2) tonic expiratory (tonic E) neurons (n = 4), and 3) tonic neurons (n = 18). 4. In other experiments we tested I and tonic E neurons identified first in control solution for bursting behavior in low-Ca2+ solution. Several I neurons (n = 5 of 33), but none of the tonic E neurons (n = 0 of 13), continued to burst rhythmically. 5. Bursting and nonbursting respiratory neurons were distributed throughout the ventrolateral reticular formation within the pre-BötC as well as in the ventral respiratory group (VRG) immediately caudal to the pre-BötC. 6. We conclude that subpopulations of VRG neurons in vitro have rhythmic bursting properties when synaptic transmission is abolished. Respiratory neurons, especially I neurons, were the most prevalent class of bursting cells. Only a small percentage of respiratory neurons, however, had pacemaker properties. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the respiratory oscillator includes specialized neurons with intrinsic oscillatory properties.