The significance of afferent vagal information in the control of breathing in guinea pigs.

The stimulation of the central vagus nerve in guinea pigs was applied to study the role of vagal afferent information in the control of breathing. The survival time after bilateral vagotomy was measured in unanesthetized animals, under Hexobarbital anesthesia, and in anesthetized subjects when the central stump of the vagus nerve was stimulated. There were no differences in survival time between the first and the second groups, but in animals with vagal stimulation, the survival time was prolonged. The respiratory and circulatory disturbances were abolished by stimulation.