Pattern of discharge of respiratory neurons during systemic vasomotor waves.

CHERNIACK, NEIL S., NORMAN H. EDELMAN, AND ALFRED P. FISHMAN. Pattern of discharge of respiratory neurons during systemic vasomotor waves. Am. J. Physiol. 217(5) : 1375-l 383. 1969.Systemic blood pressure oscillations, produced in paralyzed dogs by arresting ventilation or by hemorrhage during mechanical ventilation, were related to the phasic phrenic nerve electrical activity. Oscillations synchronous with each burst of phrenic nerve activity (“Traube-Hering” waves) occurred in hemorrhaged animals and during arrested ventilation. Oscillations unrelated to the frequency of the phrenic nerve bursts (“Mayer” waves) occurred only after hemorrhage. The integrated activity of each phrenic nerve burst was less and the bursts were more frequent during Mayer waves than during Traube-Hering waves. Neither wave pattern was abolished by carotid chemoand baroreceptor denervation. Maneuvers (vagotomy or arrested ventilation) which slowed the bursts of phrenic nerve activity and increased the electrical activity of each burst converted Mayer to Traube-Hering waves. The reverse changes in phrenic nerve activity and rate (produced by raising body temperature) changed Traube-Hering to Mayer waves. Traube-Hering waves seem to be caused by a direct influence of the phasic activity of respiratory neurons on vasomotor activity. This phasic activity can prevent Mayer waves.