[The respiratory facilitating effects by electrical and chemical stimulation of central nucleus amygdala].

Experiments were performed on fifty urethan anesthetized (1 g/kg) rabbits of both sexes, vagotomized and spontaneously breathing. The respiratory responses to electrical and chemical stimulation of ACE were observed. The results were as follows: 1. Long train electrical stimulation of ACE caused significant respiratory facilitating effects: inspiratory prolongation and increase of respiratory rate and depth. 2. Short brust of electrical stimulation administered in ACE during the mid inspiratory and expiratory phases elicited the prolongation of inspiratory phase and the expiratory off-switch (EO-S) effect, respectively. 3. Microinjection of monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) (1 mol/L, 1 microliter) into ACE produced the similar respiratory effects as that of electrical stimulation. 4. Control experiments had no significant effect on respiration. The results showed that the activation of neurons in ACE caused facilitation of respiration. It is suggested that ACE region may take an important part in facilitating the basic respiratory rhythm.