Neurochemical control of tissue resistance in piglets

Lung resistance may be influenced by chemoreceptor activity and modulated by inspiratory neural output; however, it is unknown whether the contractile elements of lung tissue participate in these changes during early development. In anesthetized paralyzed open-chest piglets, we measured phrenic electroneurogram, lung resistance (RL), and tissue resistance utilizing alveolar capsules to partition the hypercapnic and hypoxic responses of RL into tissue (Rti) and airway resistance (Raw) components. Inhalation of 7% CO2 significantly increased RL (7.4 +/- 0.5 to 11.3 +/- 0.6 cmH2O.l-1.s), Rti (5.2 +/- 0.5 to 6.9 +/- 0.5 cmH2O.l-1.s), and Raw (2.2 +/- 0.2 to 4.4 +/- 0.4 cmH2O.l-1.s). Inhalation of 12% O2 caused more modest increases in RL, Rti, and Raw. Oscillations in tracheal and alveolar pressures appeared in synchrony with phrenic activity in response to both chemoreceptor stimuli. Cholinergic blockade eliminated these oscillations and significantly reduced the hypercapnic and hypoxic responses of RL, Rti, and Raw. These data demonstrate for the first time that hypercapnia and hypoxia elicit a cholinergically mediated increase in Rti which, just like the airway component of RL, is modulated by inspiratory neural output and is present during early development. Such coordination in neural function throughout the respiratory system may serve to optimize gas exchange during early postnatal life.