scholarly journals Activation of Opioid μ Receptors in Caudal Medullary Raphe Region Inhibits the Ventilatory Response to Hypercapnia in Anesthetized Rats

2007 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 288-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenxiong Zhang ◽  
Fadi Xu ◽  
Cancan Zhang ◽  
Xiaomin Liang

Background : Opioids, extensively used as analgesics, markedly depress ventilation, particularly the ventilatory responsiveness to hypercapnia in humans and animals predominantly via acting on mu receptors. The medullary raphe region (MRR) contains abundant mu receptors responsible for analgesia and is also an important central area involving carbon dioxide chemoreception and contributing to the ventilatory responsiveness to hypercapnia. Therefore, the authors asked whether activation of mu receptors in the caudal, medial, or rostral MRR depressed ventilation and the response to hypercapnia, respectively. Methods : Experiments were conducted in 32 anesthetized and spontaneously breathing rats. Ventilation and it response to progressive hypercapnia were recorded. The slopes obtained from plotting minute ventilation, respiratory frequency, and tidal volume against the corresponding levels of end-tidal pressure of carbon dioxide were used as the indices of the respiratory responsiveness to carbon dioxide. DAMGO ([d-Ala2, N-Me-Phe4, Gly-ol]-enkephalin), a mu-receptor agonist, was systemically administered (100 mug/kg) before and/or after local injection of CTAP (D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2) (100 ng/100 nl), a mu-receptor antagonist, into the caudal MRR, or locally administered (35 ng/100 nl) into the MRR subnuclei. Results : The authors found that systemic DAMGO significantly inhibited ventilation and the response to carbon dioxide by 20% and 31%, respectively, and these responses were significantly diminished to 11% and 14% after pretreatment of the caudal MRR with CTAP. Local administration of DAMGO into the caudal MRR also reduced ventilation and the response to carbon dioxide by 22% and 28%, respectively. In sharp contrast, these responses were not observed when the DAMGO microinjection was made in the middle MRR or rostral MRR. Conclusions : These results lead to the conclusion that mu receptors in the caudal MRR rather than the middle MRR or rostral MRR are important but not exclusive for attenuating the hypercapnic ventilatory response.

2004 ◽  
Vol 97 (5) ◽  
pp. 1673-1680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Morelli ◽  
M. Safwan Badr ◽  
Jason H. Mateika

We hypothesized that the acute ventilatory response to carbon dioxide in the presence of low and high levels of oxygen would increase to a greater extent in men compared with women after exposure to episodic hypoxia. Eleven healthy men and women of similar race, age, and body mass index completed a series of rebreathing trials before and after exposure to eight 4-min episodes of hypoxia. During the rebreathing trials, subjects initially hyperventilated to reduce the end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PetCO2) below 25 Torr. Subjects then rebreathed from a bag containing a normocapnic (42 Torr), low (50 Torr), or high oxygen gas mixture (150 Torr). During the trials, PetCO2 increased while the selected level of oxygen was maintained. The point at which minute ventilation began to rise in a linear fashion as PetCO2 increased was considered to be the carbon dioxide set point. The ventilatory response below and above this point was determined. The results showed that the ventilatory response to carbon dioxide above the set point was increased in men compared with women before exposure to episodic hypoxia, independent of the oxygen level that was maintained during the rebreathing trials (50 Torr: men, 5.19 ± 0.82 vs. women, 4.70 ± 0.77 l·min−1·Torr−1; 150 Torr: men, 4.33 ± 1.15 vs. women, 3.21 ± 0.58 l·min−1·Torr−1). Moreover, relative to baseline measures, the ventilatory response to carbon dioxide in the presence of low and high oxygen levels increased to a greater extent in men compared with women after exposure to episodic hypoxia (50 Torr: men, 9.52 ± 1.40 vs. women, 5.97 ± 0.71 l·min−1·Torr−1; 150 Torr: men, 5.73 ± 0.81 vs. women, 3.83 ± 0.56 l·min−1·Torr−1). Thus we conclude that enhancement of the acute ventilatory response to carbon dioxide after episodic hypoxia is sex dependent.


1988 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 1451-1456 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Easton ◽  
N. R. Anthonisen

We examined the interrelation between CO2 and the ventilatory response to moderate (80% arterial saturation) sustained hypoxia in normal young adults. On a background of continuous CO2-stimulated hyperventilation, hypoxia was introduced and sustained for 25 min. Initially, with the introduction of hypoxia onto hypercapnia, there was a brisk additional increase in inspiratory minute ventilation (VI) to 284% of resting VI, but the response was not sustained and hypoxic VI declined by 36% to a level intermediate between the initial increase and the preexisting hypercapnic hyperventilation. Through the continuous hypercapnia, the changes in hypoxic ventilation resulted from significant alterations in tidal volume (VT) and mean inspiratory flow (VT/TI) without changes in respiratory timing. In another experiment, sustained hypoxia was introduced on the usual background of room air, either with isocapnia or without maintenance of end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) (poikilocapnic hypoxia). Regardless of the degree of maintenance of ETCO2, during 25 min of sustained hypoxia, VI showed an initial brisk increase and then declined by 35-40% of resting VI to a level intermediate between the initial response and resting room air VI. For both isocapnia and poikilocapnic conditions, the attenuation of VI was an expression of a diminished VT. Thus the decline in ventilation with sustained hypoxia occurred regardless of the background ETCO2, suggesting that the mechanism underlying the hypoxic decline is independent of CO2.


1994 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 1073-1080 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Xu ◽  
J. Owen ◽  
D. T. Frazier

The cerebellar contribution to the ventilatory response to progressive hypercapnia was examined in 18 anesthetized tracheotomized spontaneously breathing cats. The absolute values for minute ventilation (VE), tidal volume (VT), respiratory frequency (f), inspiratory duty cycle (TI/TT), and mean inspiratory flow (VT/TI) were measured. Progressive hypercapnia [35–65 Torr end-tidal PCO2 (PETCO2)] was induced using the rebreathing method. The respiratory variables at each level of PETCO2 and the slopes of ventilatory (VT and f) responses to hypercapnia were compared across the intact, decerebellate, and decerebellate-vagotomized preparations. In 12 cats, decerebellation preceded vagotomy, and in 6 cats the order of the surgical procedures was reversed. The results show that, compared with intact control, decerebellation had little effect on respiratory variables when PETCO2 was 30–35 Torr. However, during a hypercapneic challenge (40–65 Torr PETCO2), VE and the slope of the VE response were significantly reduced. Bilateral vagotomy increased VT and decreased f but failed to alter the ventilatory response in the PETCO2 range of 35–55 Torr. However, combination of decerebellation and vagotomy, regardless of the surgical order, severely blunted VE (35–65 Torr PETCO2) and the slopes of VE, VT and f responses. When decerebellation followed vagotomy, significant decreases in VT (absolute values and slopes) were noted with little further alteration in f response. We conclude that the cerebellum and its interaction with the vagus nerves play a facilitatory or disinhibitory role in the ventilatory responses to hypercapnia.


1996 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Dahan ◽  
Elise Sarton ◽  
Maarten van den Elsen ◽  
Jack van Kleef ◽  
Luc Teppema ◽  
...  

Background At low dose, the halogenated anesthetic agents halothane, isoflurane, and enflurane depress the ventilatory response to isocapnic hypoxia in humans. In the current study, the influence of subanesthetic desflurane (0.1 minimum alveolar concentration [MAC]) on the isocapnic hypoxic ventilatory response was assessed in healthy volunteers during normocapnia and hypercapnia. Methods A single hypoxic ventilatory response was obtained at each of 4 target end-tidal partial pressure of oxygen concentrations: 75, 53, 44, and 38 mmHg, before and during 0.1 MAC desflurane administration. Fourteen subjects were tested at a normal end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (43 mmHg), with 9 subjects tested at an end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration of 49 mmHg (hypercapnia). The hypoxic sensitivity (S) was computed as the slope of the linear regression of inspired minute ventilation (V1) on (100-SPO2). Values are mean +/- SE. Results Sensitivity was unaffected by desflurane during normocapnia (control: S = 0.45 +/- 0.07 l.min-1.%-1 vs. 0.1 MAC desflurane: S = 0.43 +/- 0.09 l.min-1.%-1). With hypercapnia S decreased by 30% during desflurane inhalation (control: S = 0.74 +/- 0.09 l.min-1.%-1 vs. 0.1 MAC desflurane: S = 0.53 +/- 0.06 l.min-1.%-1; P < 0.05). Conclusions On the basis of the data, subanesthetic desflurane has no detectable effect on the normocapnic hypoxic ventilatory response sensitivity. However, the carbon dioxideinduced augmentation of the hypoxic response was reduced. This indicates that subanesthetic desflurane effects the chemoreceptors at the carotid bodies.


1998 ◽  
Vol 89 (3) ◽  
pp. 642-647. ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Daniel Babenco ◽  
Robert T. Blouin ◽  
Pattilyn F. Conard ◽  
Jeffrey B. Gross

Background Diphenhydramine is used as an antipruritic and antiemetic in patients receiving opioids. Whether it might exacerbate opioid-induced ventilatory depression has not been determined. Methods The ventilatory response to carbon dioxide during hyperoxia and the ventilatory response to hypoxia during hypercapnia (end-tidal pressure of carbon dioxide [PETCO2] is approximately equal to 54 mmHg) were determined in eight healthy volunteers. Ventilatory responses to carbon dioxide and hypoxia were calculated at baseline and during an alfentanil infusion (estimated blood levels approximately equal to 10 ng/ml) before and after diphenhydramine 0.7 mg/kg. Results The slope of the ventilatory response to carbon dioxide decreased from 1.08+/-0.38 to 0.79+/-0.36 l x min(-1) x mmHg(-1) (x +/- SD, P < 0.05) during alfentanil infusion; after diphenhydramine, the slope increased to 1.17+/-0.28 l x min(-1) x mmHg(-1) (P < 0.05). The minute ventilation (VE) at PETCO2 approximately equal to 46 mmHg (VE46) decreased from 12.1+/-3.7 to 9.7+/-3.6 l/min (P < 0.05) and the VE at 54 mmHg (VE54) decreased from 21.3+/-4.8 to 16.6+/-4.7 l/min during alfentanil (P < 0.05). After diphenhydramine, (VE46 did not change significantly, remaining lower than baseline at 9.9+/-2.9 l/min (P < 0.05), whereas VE54 increased significantly to 20.5+/-3.0 l/min. During hypoxia, VE at SpO2 = 90% (VE90) decreased from 30.5+/-9.7 to 23.1+/-6.9 l/min during alfentanil (P < 0.05). After diphenhydramine, the increase in VE90 to 27.2+/-9.2 l/min was not significant (P = 0.06). Conclusions Diphenhydramine counteracts the alfentanil-induced decrease in the slope of the ventilatory response to carbon dioxide. However, at PETCO2 = 46 mmHg, it does not significantly alter the alfentanil-induced shift in the carbon dioxide response curve. In addition, diphenhydramine does not exacerbate the opioid-induced depression of the hypoxic ventilatory response during moderate hypercarbia.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 95 (6) ◽  
pp. 864-867
Author(s):  
Janet G. Wingkun ◽  
Janet S. Knisely ◽  
Sidney H. Schnoll ◽  
Gary R. Gutcher

Objective. To determine whether there is a demonstrable abnormality in control of breathing in infants of substance-abusing mothers during the first few days of life. Methods. We enrolled 12 drug-free control infants and 12 infants of substance abusing mothers (ISAMs). These infants experienced otherwise uncomplicated term pregnancies and deliveries. The infants were assigned to a group based on the results of maternal histories and maternal and infant urine toxicology screens. Studies were performed during quiet sleep during the first few days of life. We measured heart rate, oxygen saturations via a pulse oximeter, end-tidal carbon dioxide (ET-CO2) level, respiratory rate, tidal volume, and airflow. The chemoreceptor response was assessed by measuring minute ventilation and the ET-CO2 level after 5 minutes of breathing either room air or 4% carbon dioxide. Results. The gestational ages by obstetrical dating and examination of the infants were not different, although birth weights and birth lengths were lower in the group of ISAMs. Other demographic data were not different, and there were no differences in the infants' median ages at the time of study or in maternal use of tobacco and alcohol. The two groups had comparable baseline (room air) ET-CO2 levels, respiratory rates, tidal volumes, and minute ventilation. When compared with the group of ISAMs, the drug-free group had markedly increased tidal volume and minute ventilation on exposure to 4% carbon dioxide. These increases accounted for the difference in sensitivity to carbon dioxide, calculated as the change in minute ventilation per unit change in ET-CO2 (milliliters per kg/min per mm Hg). The sensitivity to carbon dioxide of control infants was 48.66 ± 7.14 (mean ± SE), whereas that of ISAMs was 16.28 ± 3.14. Conclusions. These data suggest that ISAMs are relatively insensitive to challenge by carbon dioxide during the first few days of life. We speculate that this reflects an impairment of the chemoreceptor response.


2002 ◽  
Vol 93 (4) ◽  
pp. 1498-1505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan E. Townsend ◽  
Christopher J. Gore ◽  
Allan G. Hahn ◽  
Michael J. McKenna ◽  
Robert J. Aughey ◽  
...  

This study determined whether “living high-training low” (LHTL)-simulated altitude exposure increased the hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) in well-trained endurance athletes. Thirty-three cyclists/triathletes were divided into three groups: 20 consecutive nights of hypoxic exposure (LHTLc, n = 12), 20 nights of intermittent hypoxic exposure (four 5-night blocks of hypoxia, each interspersed with 2 nights of normoxia, LHTLi, n = 10), or control (Con, n = 11). LHTLc and LHTLi slept 8–10 h/day overnight in normobaric hypoxia (∼2,650 m); Con slept under ambient conditions (600 m). Resting, isocapnic HVR (ΔV˙e/ΔSpO2 , whereV˙e is minute ventilation and SpO2 is blood O2 saturation) was measured in normoxia before hypoxia (Pre), after 1, 3, 10, and 15 nights of exposure (N1, N3, N10, and N15, respectively), and 2 nights after the exposure night 20 (Post). Before each HVR test, end-tidal Pco 2(Pet CO2 ) and V˙e were measured during room air breathing at rest. HVR (l · min−1 · %−1) was higher ( P < 0.05) in LHTLc than in Con at N1 (0.56 ± 0.32 vs. 0.28 ± 0.16), N3 (0.69 ± 0.30 vs. 0.36 ± 0.24), N10 (0.79 ± 0.36 vs. 0.34 ± 0.14), N15 (1.00 ± 0.38 vs. 0.36 ± 0.23), and Post (0.79 ± 0.37 vs. 0.36 ± 0.26). HVR at N15 was higher ( P < 0.05) in LHTLi (0.67 ± 0.33) than in Con and in LHTLc than in LHTLi. Pet CO2 was depressed in LHTLc and LHTLi compared with Con at all points after hypoxia ( P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed for V˙e at any point. We conclude that LHTL increases HVR in endurance athletes in a time-dependent manner and decreases Pet CO2 in normoxia, without change inV˙e. Thus endurance athletes sleeping in mild hypoxia may experience changes to the respiratory control system.


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