Electrical activation of expiratory muscles increases with time in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs

1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 2285-2291 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. O. Warner ◽  
M. J. Joyner ◽  
K. Rehder

Although the pentobarbital-anesthetized dog is often used as a model in studies of respiratory muscle activity during spontaneous breathing, there is no information regarding the stability of the pattern of breathing of this model over time. The electromyograms of several inspiratory and expiratory muscle groups were measured in six dogs over a 4-h period by use of chronically implanted electrodes. Anesthesia was induced with pentobarbital sodium (25 mg/kg iv), with supplemental doses to maintain constant plasma pentobarbital concentrations. Phasic electrical activity increased over time in the triangularis sterni, transversus abdominis, and external oblique muscles (expiratory muscles). The electrical activity of the costal diaphragm, crural diaphragm, and parasternal intercostal muscles (inspiratory muscles) was unchanged. These changes in electrical activity occurred despite stable plasma levels of pentobarbital and arterial PCO2. They were associated with changes in chest wall motion and an increased tidal volume with unchanged breathing frequency. We conclude that expiratory muscle groups are selectively activated with time in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs lying supine. Therefore the duration of anesthesia is an important variable in studies using this model.

1992 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 2062-2068 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Oliven ◽  
M. Haxhiu ◽  
S. G. Kelsen

The present study evaluated the reflex response of the expiratory muscles to pulmonary congestion and edema. The electromyograms of two thoracic and four abdominal expiratory muscles were recorded in 12 anesthetized dogs. Pulmonary edema was induced by rapid saline infusion in six dogs and injection of oleic acid into the pulmonary circulation in the remaining six dogs. Both forms of pulmonary edema reduced pulmonary compliance, interfered with gas exchange, and induced a rapid and shallow breathing pattern. The electrical activity of all abdominal muscles was suppressed during both forms of pulmonary edema. In contrast, the electromyogram activity of the thoracic expiratory muscles was not significantly affected by pulmonary edema. Acute pulmonary arterial hypertension produced in two dogs by inflating a balloon in the left atrium had no effect on ventilation or expiratory muscle electrical activity. In two vagotomized dogs, pulmonary edema did not inhibit the expiratory muscles. We conclude that pulmonary edema suppresses abdominal but not thoracic expiratory muscle activity by vagal reflex pathway(s). Extravasation of fluid into the lung appears to be more important than an increase in pulmonary vascular pressure in eliciting this response.


1991 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 2025-2031 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Schroeder ◽  
H. Y. Tao ◽  
G. A. Farkas

To assess the mechanical role of the expiratory musculature during eupnea, we recorded the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the triangularis sterni, the external oblique, and the transversus abdominis in eight supine lightly anesthetized dogs and have measured the volume generated by the phasic activation of the expiratory muscles. Activation of the expiratory muscles was invariably associated with a decrease in lung volume below the relaxed position of the respiratory system, a volume equal to 41.3 +/- 8.4 ml. This volume represented roughly 20% of tidal volume generated during spontaneous breathing. The fractional expiratory contribution to the tidal volume was unrelated to the size of the animal. Traction on the forelimbs (limb extension), however, tended to enhance the phasic expiratory activation of both the triangularis sterni and the transversus abdominis in the majority of animals. Moreover, after limb extension, the fractional contribution of tidal volume attributed to the phasic activation of the expiratory muscles increased in all but one animal. During spontaneous breathing with the forelimbs extended, roughly 25% of tidal volume was found to be due directly to phasic expiratory muscle contraction. The present observations firmly establish that in supine lightly anesthetized dogs breathing at rest the expiratory component of tidal volume represents a substantial contribution.


1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 1438-1442 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Farkas ◽  
M. Estenne ◽  
A. De Troyer

A change from the supine to the head-up posture in anesthetized dogs elicits increased phasic expiratory activation of the rib cage and abdominal expiratory muscles. However, when this postural change is produced over a 4- to 5-s period, there is an initial apnea during which all the muscles are silent. In the present studies, we have taken advantage of this initial silence to determine functional residual capacity (FRC) and measure the subsequent change in end-expiratory lung volume. Eight animals were studied, and in all of them end-expiratory lung volume in the head-up posture decreased relative to FRC [329 +/- 70 (SE) ml]. Because this decrease also represents the increase in lung volume as a result of expiratory muscle relaxation at the end of the expiratory pause, it can be used to determine the expiratory muscle contribution to tidal volume (VT). The average contribution was 62 +/- 6% VT. After denervation of the rib cage expiratory muscles, the reduction in end-expiratory lung volume still amounted to 273 +/- 84 ml (49 +/- 10% VT). Thus, in head-up dogs, about two-thirds of VT result from the action of the expiratory muscles, and most of it (83%) is due to the action of the abdominal rather than the rib cage expiratory muscles.


2018 ◽  
Vol 129 (3) ◽  
pp. 490-501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonne Doorduin ◽  
Lisanne H. Roesthuis ◽  
Diana Jansen ◽  
Johannes G. van der Hoeven ◽  
Hieronymus W. H. van Hees ◽  
...  

Abstract What We Already Know about This Topic What This Article Tells Us That Is New Background Respiratory muscle weakness in critically ill patients is associated with difficulty in weaning from mechanical ventilation. Previous studies have mainly focused on inspiratory muscle activity during weaning; expiratory muscle activity is less well understood. The current study describes expiratory muscle activity during weaning, including tonic diaphragm activity. The authors hypothesized that expiratory muscle effort is greater in patients who fail to wean compared to those who wean successfully. Methods Twenty adult patients receiving mechanical ventilation (more than 72 h) performed a spontaneous breathing trial. Tidal volume, transdiaphragmatic pressure, diaphragm electrical activity, and diaphragm neuromechanical efficiency were calculated on a breath-by-breath basis. Inspiratory (and expiratory) muscle efforts were calculated as the inspiratory esophageal (and expiratory gastric) pressure–time products, respectively. Results Nine patients failed weaning. The contribution of the expiratory muscles to total respiratory muscle effort increased in the “failure” group from 13 ± 9% at onset to 24 ± 10% at the end of the breathing trial (P = 0.047); there was no increase in the “success” group. Diaphragm electrical activity (expressed as the percentage of inspiratory peak) was low at end expiration (failure, 3 ± 2%; success, 4 ± 6%) and equal between groups during the entire expiratory phase (P = 0.407). Diaphragm neuromechanical efficiency was lower in the failure versus success groups (0.38 ± 0.16 vs. 0.71 ± 0.36 cm H2O/μV; P = 0.054). Conclusions Weaning failure (vs. success) is associated with increased effort of the expiratory muscles and impaired neuromechanical efficiency of the diaphragm but no difference in tonic activity of the diaphragm.


1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 1092-1100 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Road ◽  
A. M. Leevers

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is known to produce activation of the expiratory muscles. Several factors may determine whether this activation can assist inspiration. In this study we asked how and to what extent expiratory muscle contraction can assist inspiration during CPAP. Respiratory muscle response to CPAP was studied in eight supine anesthetized dogs. Lung volume and diaphragmatic initial length were defended by recruitment of the expiratory muscles. At the maximum CPAP of 18 cmH2O, diaphragmatic initial lengths were longer than predicted by the passive relationship by 52 and 46% in the costal and crural diaphragmatic segments, respectively. During tidal breathing after cessation of expiratory muscle activity, a component of passive inspiration occurred before the onset of inspiratory diaphragmatic electromyogram (EMG). At CPAP of 18 cmH2O, passive inspiration represented 24% of the tidal volume (VT) and tidal breathing was within the relaxation characteristic. Diaphragmatic EMG decreased at CPAP of 18 cmH2O; however, VT and tidal shortening were unchanged. We identified passive and active components of inspiration. Passive inspiration was limited by the time between the cessation of expiratory activity and the onset of inspiratory activity. We conclude that increased expiratory activity during CPAP defends diaphragmatic initial length, assists inspiration, and preserves VT. Even though breathing appeared to be an expiratory act, there remained a significant component of active inspiratory diaphragmatic shortening, and the major portion of VT was produced during active inspiration.


1994 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 1232-1238 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Xu ◽  
D. T. Frazier

The hypothesis that the cerebellum is involved in the load-compensating response of expiratory muscles to expiratory tracheal occlusion was tested in anesthetized cats. A continuous expiratory threshold load (ETL; 5 cmH2O) was applied to elicit consistent phasic baseline electromyographic activity in the transversus abdominis muscle (EMGab). Tracheal occlusion for single expirations (TOE) were applied, and the evoked responses were compared in the intact and decerebellate preparation. Cold blockade of the dorsal spinal column (C5-7) and bilateral vagal inactivation (cold blockade or transection) were employed to determine the role of afferents from the lung, airways, chest wall, and diaphragm in shaping the cerebellar involvement in the motor response. The results showed that 1) decerebellation increased the baseline amplitude of the integrated EMGab (fEMGab) activity (P < 0.05) with little change in expiratory duration, 2) TOE applied after decerebellation markedly increased the expiratory duration compared with the intact values (P < 0.05), with little effect on the peak fEMGab, 3) cooling the dorsal spinal columns (C5-7) did not significantly affect EMGab responses in the intact or decerebellate preparations, and 4) vagal inactivation in the intact or decerebellate preparation significantly eliminated the fEMGab responses to ETL and TOE. We conclude that the cerebellum is involved in the modulation of transversus abdominis activity during ETL and TOE. Vagal afferents provide the major sensory input for the cerebellar modulation of the expiratory loading response.


1978 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. A. Saunders ◽  
J. R. Rigg ◽  
L. D. Pengelly ◽  
E. J. Campbell

The effect of respiratory muscle weakness on the maximum static pressure-volume (PV) characteristics of the respiratory system was studied in four healthy males infused slowly with d-tubocurarine (dtc). Inspiratory capacity (IC), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), maximum static inspiratory and expiratory mouth pressures at four lung volumes, and handgrip were measured during induction of, and recovery from muscle weakness. The maximum effect of dtc varied among the muscle groups tested; peripheral muscles were most severely affected, expiratory muscles moderately, and inspiratory muscles least affected. At each level of weakness studied, decreases of IC and ERV were proportional to decreases of maximum static mouth pressures. Vital capacity, measured at each level of weakness was much less than values predicted from the static mechanical properties of the respiratory system. Our findings suggest that the marked change in the extremes of lung volume during submaximal neuromuscular blockade (SMNB) is due, in part, to unequal distribution of muscle weakness, reflected by decreased ability to change ribcage dimensions even at modest levels of SMNB.


1998 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 1198-1207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S. Hedrick ◽  
Melinda R. Dwinell ◽  
Patrick L. Janssen ◽  
Josue Pizarro ◽  
Gerald E. Bisgard

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that dysrhythmic breathing induced by the α2-agonist clonidine is accompanied by differential recruitment of respiratory muscles. In adult goats ( n = 14) electromyographic (EMG) measurements were made from inspiratory muscles (diaphragm and parasternal intercostal) and expiratory muscles [triangularis sterni (TS) and transversus abdominis (Abd)]. EMG of the thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle was used as an index of upper airway (glottal) patency. Peak EMG activities of all spinal inspiratory and expiratory muscles were augmented by central and peripheral chemoreceptor stimuli. Phasic TA was apparent in the postinspiratory phase of the breathing cycle under normoxic conditions. During dysrhythmic breathing episodes induced by clonidine, TS and Abd activities were attenuated or abolished, whereas diaphragm and parasternal intercostal activities were unchanged. There was no tonic activation of TS or Abd EMG during apneas; however, TA activity became tonic throughout the apnea. We conclude that 1) α2-adrenoceptor stimulation results in differential recruitment of respiratory muscles during respiratory dysrhythmias and 2) apneas are accompanied by active glottic closure in the awake goat.


1996 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 1379-1389 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Abe ◽  
N. Kusuhara ◽  
N. Yoshimura ◽  
T. Tomita ◽  
P. A. Easton

Together the abdominal muscles contribute significantly to ventilation under some conditions, but there is little information regarding individual recruitment and timing of activation of the four abdominal muscles in humans. Fine-wire electrodes were inserted under direct vision guided by high-resolution ultra-sound into the rectus abdominis (Rectus), external oblique (Extern), internal oblique (Intern), and transversus abdominis (Transv) in nine awake healthy subjects. Airflow, end-tidal CO2, and moving-average EMG signals were recorded during 1) supine resting and CO2-stimulated ventilation and 2) resting ventilation in the standing position. During resting supine breathing, Transv showed significant phasic EMG activity during expiration. As posture changed from supine to standing, phasic activity during resting ventilation was greatest in Transv, with lesser activity in Intern and Extern, while Rectus remained inactive. As CO2 began to increase, Transv was activated first, followed by Intern, the Extern, and finally Rectus. With moderate CO2 stimulation, Transv and Intern were more active than was Extern and Rectus remained least active. EMG activities in the expiratory muscles after cessation of expiratory flow (postexpiratory expiratory activity) and in expiratory muscle activity preceding expiratory flow were observed consistently during supine stimulated ventilation and standing resting ventilation. These activities before and after expiratory airflow were prominent with stimulated ventilation during a substantial portion of inspiration, suggesting dual control of inspiratory pump action by both inspiratory and expiratory muscles, which provide acceleration and braking actions, respectively. These results suggest that in awake humans 1) during resting ventilation, expiration is an active process; 2) abdominal muscles are activated differentially; 3) Transv is the most active, Intern and Extern are intermediate, and Rectus is the least active expiratory muscle; and 4) during stimulated ventilation, inspiratory and expiratory muscles contribute dually to inspiratory pump action.


1990 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 1981-1986 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Haxhiu ◽  
N. S. Cherniack ◽  
E. van Lunteren

The central effects of tachykinins (substance P, neurokinin A, and neurokinin B) on the distribution of the motor activity to rib cage and abdominal expiratory muscles were studied in anesthetized tracheotomized spontaneously breathing dogs and cats. Intracisternal application of substance P (11 dogs) in doses of 10(-5) to 10(-4) M caused diaphragm electrical activity to change insignificantly from 19.3 +/- 1.9 to 24.8 +/- 3.2 units (P greater than 0.05), produced a moderate increase of triangularis sterni activity from 12.6 +/- 2.2 to 19.2 +/- 2.2 units (P less than 0.05), and stimulated a large increase of transversus abdominis activity from 9.4 +/- 2.7 to 28.5 +/- 2.6 units (P less than 0.01). Comparable effects were seen with similar doses of neurokinin A (8 dogs) and neurokinin B (3 dogs) administered intracisternally. Local application of substance P to the ventral medullary surface (5 dogs and 4 cats) also caused expiratory muscle activity to increase more than diaphragm activity, and in addition transversus abdominis activity increased to a larger extent than triangularis sterni activity. Furthermore, administration of the substance P antagonist [D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9]-SP to the ventral medullary surface decreased respiratory motor output, with expiratory muscles activity being attenuated to a greater extent than diaphragm activity. Application of neurotensin and N-methyl-D-asparate to the ventral surface of the medulla produced responses similar to those observed as a result of central administration of tachykinin peptides. The results suggest that 1) mammalian tachykinins are involved in the regulation of thoracic and abdominal expiratory muscle activity, 2) these muscles manifest substantial differences in their electrical responses to excitatory neuropeptides acting centrally, and 3) inputs from modulatory neurons located in this vicinity of the ventral medullary surface seem to be distributed unevenly to different expiratory premotor and/or motoneurons.


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