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The canine phrenic-to-intercostal reflex

A D De Troyer¹

¹Laboratory of Cardiorespiratory Physiology, Brussels School of Medicine, and Chest Service, Erasme University Hospital, 1070 Brussels, Belgium.

The Journal of Physiology

|June 20, 1998

Summary

Diaphragm paralysis increases inspiratory muscle activity. Phrenic nerve stimulation reflexly inhibits these muscles, particularly external intercostals, via small myelinated fibers.

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Area of Science:

Respiratory Physiology
Neuroscience

Background:

Diaphragm paralysis leads to increased inspiratory intercostal muscle activity.
The role of phrenic afferent fibers in regulating inspiratory intercostal muscles is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if phrenic afferent fibers can reflexly inhibit inspiratory intercostal muscle activity.
To identify the specific intercostal muscles affected and the nerve fiber types involved.

Main Methods:

Recorded electrical activity of parasternal, external intercostal, and levator costae muscles in vagotomized dogs.
Stimulated C5 phrenic nerve roots during inspiration.
Repeated stimulation after dorsal root section to confirm reflex pathways.

Main Results:

Ipsilateral and contralateral C5 phrenic nerve stimulation reduced inspiratory intercostal activity.
This inhibition was abolished by C5 dorsal root section.
External intercostals and levator costae showed inhibition at lower stimulus strengths than parasternal intercostals.
Inhibition was stimulus-intensity dependent.

Conclusions:

Diaphragmatic receptors reflexly inhibit inspiratory intercostal muscles, especially external intercostals and levator costae.
This reflex is mediated primarily by small myelinated phrenic afferent fibers.

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