Reticular neurons activity of the bulbar respiratory center of rats in dynamics of hypoxia Biology

Abstract

The subject of the study is the involvement of reticular neurons (RN) of the bulbar respiratory center in respiration under conditions of hypobaric hypoxia. Such conditions were created in a laboratory altitude chamber and corresponded to a “lift” up to 8000 m altitude. At the beginning of such a “lift”, at pressure corresponding to an altitude of 4000–5000 m, a decrease in the PO2 in the inspired air to 98–85 mm Hg resulted an increasing impulse activity of neurons. Within a phase of extreme hypoxia, at an “altitude” of 7500 to 8000 m (PO2 = 64–58 mm Hg), considerable suppression of the activity of bulbar RN is observed. Impulse activity of RN in different discharge frequency at different stages of hypoxia has demonstrated considerable specificity.