Dorsal and ventral respiratory groups of neurons in the medulla of the rat.

The aim of the present work was to identify and localize in rat the medullary neurons involved in respiration. Neural activity was recorded in ketamine-anesthetized, paralyzed and artificially ventilated rats. Active sites were marked by electrocoagulation. Neurons firing in relation to phrenic nerve activity were located between 0.5 and 2 mm lateral to the midline, extending from 0.5 mm caudal to 2 mm rostral to the posterior end of the area postrema. Two groups of respiratory neurons were found: a dorsal group located ventrolateral to the tractus solitarius and a ventral group located in the ventrolateral reticular formation close to the nucleus ambiguus. Neurons were classified as bulbospinal or laryngeal if stimulation of the spinal cord or the vagus nerve, respectively, elicited antidromic action potentials, or as propriobulbar if they were not activated. Neurons firing synchronously with lung inflation were termed pump (P) cells. The dorsal respiratory group includes inspiratory (I) bulbospinal and propriobulbar neurons, P cells, but few expiratory (E) propriobulbar neurons. The ventral respiratory group includes bulbospinal, laryngeal and propriobulbar I and E neurons. Laryngeal motoneurons project ipsilaterally whereas bulbospinal neurons project contralaterally. Cross-correlations between inspiratory bulbospinal neuronal activity and phrenic discharge suggest that bulbospinal I neurons of dorsal and ventral groups project monosynaptically to contralateral phrenic motoneurons. These results indicate a similarity of the medullary respiratory centers of rats and cats, suggesting that rats may profitably be used in studies of respiratory rhythmogenesis.