Firing properties of medullary expiratory neurons during fictive straining in cats.

Expiratory (E) neurons in the caudal nucleus retroambigualis extend descending spinal axons to the lumbar and sacral spinal cord. Discharge rates of single E neurons were recorded to examine differences in activity of E neurons projecting to the lumbar or sacral spinal cord during fictive straining induced by distention of the colon with a balloon. Firing frequencies of E neurons with descending axons in the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord increased during the repetitive rise of rectum pressure, whereas those of E neurons with descending axons in the sacral spinal cord decreased. E neurons with descending axons in the thoracic/lumbar and sacral spinal cord exhibit different firing characteristics during the repetitive rise of rectum pressure when straining during defecation. The activity of abdominal nerves during fictive straining is in phase with changes in rectum pressure, but out of phase with the activity of E neurons.