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Topography of the respiratory responses to electrical stimulation in the medulla oblongata

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Summary

The medulla oblongata of cats was exposed from the ventral surface and the effects of superficial and intramedullary submaximal stimulation with a unipolar electrode (40/sec, 1 msec, 1–4 V) on respiration were investigated. The response pattern was analysed with respect to reaction types. The observed ventilatory response was then mapped into medullary sections.

Confirming the evidence of the older literature it was thus demonstrated that the ‘respiratory center’ may be functionally demarcated into ‘inspiratory’ and ‘expiratory’ structures. New data on their locations are presented. At the transition between them there was some overlapping of the effects. The data suggest, however, macroscopic grouping of inspiratory and of expiratory structures rather than a mixing of inspiratory and expiratory units on a cellular level as may have been concluded from some studies of the spike activity.

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Im Rahmen des Programms des Sonderforschungsbereiches 114 (Bionach) der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft.

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Trouth, C.O., Loeschcke, H.H., Berndt, J. et al. Topography of the respiratory responses to electrical stimulation in the medulla oblongata. Pflugers Arch. 339, 153–170 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00587181

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