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Time domains of the hypoxic ventilatory response
F L Powell1, W K Milsom, G S Mitchell
1Department of Medicine and White Mountain Research Station University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0623, USA. fpowell@ucsd.edu
Respiration Physiology
|August 26, 1998
Summary
The body
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- The ventilatory response to hypoxia involves complex physiological mechanisms.
- These mechanisms vary in their effects on breathing and their time course, spanning seconds to years.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a standard terminology for describing the different time domains of the hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR).
- To promote the integration of research findings across different experimental settings.
Main Methods:
- The study reviews existing literature on the physiological and neurochemical basis of HVR.
- It categorizes HVR mechanisms based on their time domains (seconds, minutes, days, years).
Main Results:
- Short-term HVR mechanisms (seconds, minutes) are better understood than long-term ones (days, years).
- Some HVR mechanisms exhibit 'memory,' indicating plasticity in the ventilatory control system.
Conclusions:
- A standardized terminology is crucial for understanding the diverse time-dependent mechanisms of HVR.
- Understanding these mechanisms has significant implications for basic research and clinical applications in respiratory control.