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S Kuwana

Publications and source records attributed to S Kuwana.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Developmental changes in the hypoxia tolerance of the in vitro respiratory network of rats.

The functional relation between respiratory activity, extracellular potassium activity (aKe) and tissue oxygen pressure (pO2) was analyzed in vitro in the ventral respiratory group (VRG) of the neonatal brainstem-spinal cord (NB) and the perfused adult brainstem (AB) of rats. In the AB, an aKe increase of up to 35 mM and a reversible blockade of respiratory activity occurred during anoxia periods of 5-10 min. In the NB, respiratory activity persisted during a 60 min anoxia in CO2/HCO3(-)-buffered solutions and aKe increased by less than 1.5 mM. In both preparations, inhibition of glycolysis by iodoacetate led to an irreversible blockade of respiratory rhythm and a delayed increase of aKe by more than 15 mM. We conclude that anaerobic metabolism is sufficient for the maintenance of respiratory activity and potassium homeostasis in the brainstem of the neonatal rat, but not of the adult.

Aging

Characteristics of inspiratory inhibition by occlusion of both external carotid and basilar arteries in cats.

Effects of the occlusion of both the external carotid and basilar arteries on the inspiratory activity were studied in anesthetized, vagotomized, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated cats. Integrated phrenic nerve activity was used as an index of the inspiratory activity. Blood pressure in the lingual artery, located downstream from the occluded external carotid arteries, was measured as the arterial pressure of the upper brain stem during occlusion. The basilar artery was occluded at the boundary between the medulla and pons. Occlusions of the external carotid arteries and basilar artery suppressed the phrenic nerve activity to finally disappear within 1 min (phrenic nerve apnea, 45 out of 50 occlusions in 6 cats). The blood pressure in the upper brain stem was 16.6 +/- 5.7 mmHg (mean +/- S.D.) during occlusions. These effects of occlusion on the phrenic nerve activity were also observed during hypercapnia and hypoxia, although they were not so remarkable as those during normocapnia and normoxia. The results indicate that the upper part of the brain stem operates a profound facilitatory mechanism on the medullary inspiratory activity.

Animals

Respiratory responses to occlusion or hypercapnic blood injection of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery in cats.

To examine whether the central chemoreceptors of respiration are located in the perfused area of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA), we occluded arteries or injected hypercapnic blood into arteries in the ventral surface of the medulla in anesthetized, paralyzed, and peripherally chemodenervated cats. Phrenic nerve activity, as an index of respiratory output, was augmented by an injection of hypercapnic blood into the vertebral artery. This vertebral-injection response decreased during bilateral occlusion of AICA. However, responses of phrenic nerve activity to the occlusion of AICA were complicated; activity increased in 19 cats, did not change in 10, and decreased in 9 during occlusion. In experiments with blood of various PCO2 levels being bilaterally injected into AICA, phrenic discharges increased with increases of PCO2. During the injection of constant PCO2 blood into AICA, phrenic response to alveolar PCO2 decreased by 80% compared with the original response. From these results, the blood flow and blood PCO2 level of AICA seemed to be related to the central chemosensitivity for respiration. To examine the perfused area, the ventral surface pH of the medulla was measured with a micro-combination pH electrode (2 mm diameter). During the injection into AICA, pH in the rostral medulla depended on the PCO2 of injected blood, and pH in other areas depended on the PCO2 of systemic blood. Also, histological study of India ink injection into AICA showed that ink-filled vessels were exclusively observed in the rostral medulla. Thus, we conclude that at least part of the central chemoreceptors of respiration are located in the perfused area of AICA, that is, in the rostral medulla.

Animals

Possible locations of pH-dependent central chemoreceptors: intramedullary regions with acidic shift of extracellular fluid pH during hypercapnia.

Using liquid membrane pH microelectrodes, we evaluated rapid and transient changes in extracellular fluid (ECF) pH within the medulla during vertebral artery injections of CO2-saturated saline (0.5 ml) in anesthetized (Dial-urethane), spontaneously breathing cats. We found intramedullary regions where ECF pH shifted to the acid side in the time course analogous to respiratory excitation during the CO2 loadings: the acidic shift occurred just before the respiratory excitation. Since most of the tested regions showed no or few changes in ECF pH, the responsive regions are thought to be specific local environments fitting the central chemoreceptors. Forty (85%) out of the 47 responsive regions were found to be scattered in the ventrolateral medulla, i.e. a long narrow zone extending from the ventrolateral surface to the ventral respiratory group (VRG) areas where inspiratory or expiratory activity was frequently recorded. The responsive regions were not necessarily restricted to the superficial ventral layers. We were also able to find the responsive regions in the dorsal area ventral to the nucleus tractus solitarii, though they were fewer in number (7/47). The distributions corresponded rougly to the areas where we had previously identified the tonically firing neurons excited exclusively by stimulation of the central chemoreceptors. These results indicate a possibility that the pH-dependent central chemoreceptors, if any, would be located within the regions demonstrated in this study.

Animals

ECF pH dynamics within the ventrolateral medulla: a microelectrode study.

Using pH-sensitive microelectrodes, we evaluated pH dynamics of extracellular fluid (ECF) within the ventrolateral medulla (VLM) beneath the central chemoceptive areas in anesthetized, spontaneously breathing cats. Static ECF pH was acid in the superficial layers (less than 1 mm), compared with the overlying cerebrospinal fluid pH that became alkaline gradually during the experiments. In the deeper VLM areas (1-3 mm), no systematic gradients of ECF pH were observed. We found various, isolated regions where intravertebral artery injections of CO2-saturated saline evoked acidic shift of ECF pH in the time course analogous to ventilatory augmentation. Those responsive regions were found to be scattered not only in the superficial layers but also in the deeper VLM areas, although many nonresponsive regions were also intermingled among them. Occlusions of the principal vessels supplying the tested VLM regions diminished but failed to abolish the ECF pH responses to the CO2 loadings, suggesting a collateral blood flow by fine pial vessels. The present study suggests a possibility that the pH-dependent central chemoreceptors, if any, would be scattered in the deeper VLM areas as well as the superficial layers.

Animals

Inspiratory response to occlusion of arteries in the ventral surface of the medulla in anesthetized cats.

By the occlusion of arteries in the ventral surface of the medulla, the blood supply to the central chemoreceptor for respiration was examined in anesthetized, paralyzed and peripheral chemodenervated cats. Phrenic nerve activities (P.N.A.), as an index of the respiratory center output, increased with an injection (3 ml/min, 10 sec) of hypercapnic blood (PCO2 = 104.5 mmHg) into the vertebral artery (VA injection response). The VA injection responses during occlusion of arteries in the ventral surface of the medulla were classified into three groups: 1) The response disappeared by the bilateral occlusion of the anterior inferior cerebellar arteries (AICA) in 8 out of 29 cats. 2) The response disappeared by the occlusion of both AICA and the posterior inferior cerebellar arteries (PICA) in 9 cats. 3) The response did not disappear in spite of the additional occlusion of several branches from the basilar artery in 11 cats, although the response had diminished. These different results may be due to the complexity of the central chemosensitive structure or of the central vascular system. However, among arteries the AICA blood flow seemed to be most preferentially related to the VA injection response. Thus, at least a part of the central chemosensitive structure may be located in the area perfused by the AICA.

Animals

Effect of hypercapnic blood injection into the vertebral artery on the phrenic nerve activity in cats.

Hypercapnic blood was injected into the vertebral artery in anesthetized and paralyzed cats. The stimulating effect on the phrenic nerve activity was dependent on the injection rate, duration, and PCO2 level of the injected blood. The time delay from the start of injection to the onset of increase in phrenic nerve activity was inversely proportional to both the injection rate and the PCO2 of injected blood.

Animals

Effect of inactivation of carotid sinus nerve by cold block on phrenic nerve activity in cats.

The effect of the elimination of input via the carotid chemoreceptor on respiratory output was examined quantitatively in anesthetized, vagotomized, and paralyzed cats. The integrated phrenic nerve activity (PNA) was recorded as an indication of output of the respiratory center. Also, the elimination of the carotid chemoreflex drive was repeatedly done by a cold block of the carotid sinus nerve at various PCO2 levels during hyperoxia, normoxia, and hypoxia. The blockade induced a reduction in PNA at each PCO2 level in every PO2 group. If the highest PNA value recorded at a high PCO2 in each PO2 condition was assigned a value of 100%, the reduction of the PNA by the blockade, i.e., the respiratory effect of the carotid chemoreflex drive, would be slightly larger during normoxia (16%) than during hyperoxia (8.7%), but would be independent of PCO2. During hypoxia, this chemoreflex effect was about 40% of a low PCO2, and decreased with increments of PCO2, finally reaching about 20% of a high PCO2 level. Furthermore, the relative contribution of the carotid chemoreceptor to respiratory output, expressed as the ratio of the PNA reduction during blockade to the PNA before blockade, was inversely proportional to both PO2 and PCO2. It is concluded that the interaction of the peripheral and central chemoreceptor drive is hypoadditive at moderate and high PCO2 levels in anesthetized cats, and this interaction is emphasized by central hypoxia.

Animals