AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 261, Issue 3 766-R770, Copyright © 1991 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Microdialysis of cat pons reveals enhanced acetylcholine release during state-dependent respiratory depression

R. Lydic, H. A. Baghdoyan and Z. Lorinc
Department of Anesthesia, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey 17033.

Microinjection of cholinergic agonists and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors into the medial pontine reticular formation (mPRF) causes a state that is polygraphically similar to rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. Respiratory studies of intact unanesthetized cats during this cholinergically induced REM sleep-like state have shown that the same cholinoceptive pontine reticular regions that mediate REM sleep can also cause state-dependent respiratory depression. The present study investigated the hypothesis that acetylcholine (ACh) release in the mPRF is increased during the respiratory depression that accompanies the cholinergically induced REM sleep-like state. Cats were implanted for polygraphic recording of sleep and wakefulness and with guide tubes aimed for placing a microinjector in one mPRF and a microdialysis probe in the contralateral mPRF. ACh release was measured with high-performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection. Compared with waking levels, ACh was significantly increased and respiratory frequency was significantly decreased during the carbachol-induced REM sleep-like state. These results support the hypothesis that endogenous cholinergic neurotransmission in brain regions known to regulate REM sleep can also cause state-dependent changes in respiratory control.

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