In order to obtain basic evidence on the neuronal organization and localization of the central respiratory mechanism in the brain stem of the cat, the following experiments were undertaken: reexamination of the physiological meaning of apneusis and the gasp; differences in stability of spontaneous burst activity of respiratory neurons in the brain stem reticular formation; changes of spontaneous firing pattern of bulbar respiratory neurons in the isolated brain stem of the cat; changes of firing pattern of a pontine and a bulbar respiratory neuron during continuous recording of both unitary activities after brain stem transection at the pontomedullary junction; responses of respiratory neurons to electrical stimulation of the spinal cord; responses of respiratory neurons to electrical stimulation of the central cut end of the vagus nerve; effects of pentobarbitone on unitary activity of pontine and bulbar respiratory neurons. Based on the experimental result a preliminary scheme of a neuronal network of the central respiratory mechanism consisting of four subsystems of respiratory neurons: a primary neuron system; a satellite neuron system; an input neuron system; an output neuron system.
Animals Brain Stem