The importance of timing on the respiratory effects of intermittent carotid body chemoreceptor stimulation.

1. The respiratory response, measured directly as tidal volume or indirectly by using integrated peak phrenic activity, to brief intermittent chemical stimulation or depression of the carotid body was determined in anaesthetized cats. Recordings of carotid sinus nerve impulses allowed precise timing of the stimulus.2. Stimulation of the carotid body had a rapid effect on air flow, tidal volume and phrenic discharge rate only if given during inspiration. Increases in tidal volume and peak phrenic discharge occurred only if stimulation was applied during the last half of inspiration. Stimulation during expiration had no effect on the form or magnitude of subsequent breaths.3. Depression of the carotid body by NH(4)OH led to decreased tidal volume and phrenic discharge if it occurred during inspiration but had no effect if it occurred during expiration.4. Stimuli in expiration led to a prolongation of expiration. Stimuli in late inspiration caused prolongation of both inspiration and expiration.5. All of the effects noted were eliminated by bilateral carotid body denervation.6. The findings are similar to those following electrical stimulation of the carotid sinus nerve and are attributable to modulation of carotid body signals by the central respiratory neurones.