[The role of the bulbospinal respiratory neurons in generating the breathing rhythm]

The role of the medullary respiratory bulbospinal neurones in respiratory timing was studied. The respiratory neurones and phrenic activity were recorded in conditions of various types of stimulation of the descending axons in the spinal cord. The activation of the bulbospinal neurones by repetitive antidromic stimulation caused the increase of the breathing rhythm and changes of the structure of the respiratory cycle. The antidromic activation of these neurones by the brief train of stimuli evoked the phase reset of the respiratory cycle. The breathing system reproduced an artificial rhythmic regime of antidromic stimulation by brief trains of stimuli. The obtained data show that the activation of the respiratory bulbospinal neurons results in the change of the respiratory timing. Consequently the bulbospinal neurons take part in the generation of respiratory rhythm.