Cervical spinal cord hemisection impacts sigh and the respiratory reset in male rats

We examined the impact of upper cervical (C2) spinal cord hemisection (C2SH) on the transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) generated during sighs and the post-sigh respiratory reset in rats. Sighs were identified inPdi traces by their characteristic biphasic pattern. We found that C2SH results in a reduction ofPdi during both eupnea and sighs, and a decrease in the immediate post-sigh breath interval. These results are consistent with partial removal of descending excitatory synaptic inputs to phrenic motor neurons that results from C2SH. Following cervical spinal cord injury, a reduction in the amplitude ofPdi during sighs may compromise the maintenance of normal lung function.
Source: Physiological Reports - Category: Physiology Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research