Bongianni F, Corda M, Fontana G A, Pantaleo T
Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiologiche, Università di Firenze, Florence, Italy.
Brain Res. 1991 Nov 22;565(1):171-4. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(91)91751-l.
We investigated connections between the rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM) and the two main inspiration-related medullary areas, i.e., the dorsal respiratory group (DRG) and the rostral ventral respiratory group (rVRG) in the cat. Non respiration-related tonically firing units encountered in the rVLM displayed either antidromic or orthodromic responses to DRG or rVRG microstimulation. Some units responded to the stimulation of both regions. We suggest that at least part of rVLM neurons are components of medullary loops operating in the control of breathing.
