Opioids prolong and anoxia shortens delay between onset of preinspiratory (pFRG) and inspiratory (preBötC) network bursting in newborn rat brainstems.

Differential responses to opioids established the hypothesis that pre/postinspiratory (Pre-I) neurons of the parafacial respiratory group (pFRG) and inspiratory (Insp) neurons of the pre-Bötzinger complex (preBötC) constitute a dual brainstem respiratory center. For further analysis of pFRG/preBötC interactions, we studied in newborn rat brainstem-spinal cord preparations opioid and anoxia effects on histologically identified pFRG-driven "type-I" Insp preBötC neurons and Pre-I neurons from three distinct respiratory brainstem regions. The micro-opioid [D-Ala(2),N-Me-Phe(4),Gly(5)-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO) slowed inspiratory-related cervical nerve bursts quantally, whereas anoxia induced nonquantal slowing and repetitive cervical bursts. DAMGO had no effect on membrane potential or input resistance of Pre-I neurons, while anoxia hyperpolarized them (approximately 5 mV) and decreased their resistance (approximately 30%). DAMGO prolonged the preinspiratory phase of Pre-I neuron bursting, whereas anoxia caused a shift to postinspiratory (48%) or inspiratory (22%) activity and silenced further 30% of cells. Pre-I neuron responses were not correlated with their rostrocaudal location or morphology. Neither DAMGO nor anoxia changed membrane potential of type-I neurons, but decreased their input resistance by 33% and 21%, respectively. The opposite DAMGO- and anoxia-evoked phase shifts of Pre-I neuron activity were reflected by corresponding shifts of pre/postinspiratory drive potentials in type-I neurons and, partly, by voltage-sensitive dye-imaged medullary neuronal population activities. The findings suggest that opioids presynaptically delay activation of type-I neurons as the target of drive from the pFRG to the preBötC. Contrary, anoxia seems to partly synchronize the pFRG and preBötC rhythm generators. This may enhance inspiratory and postinspiratory medullary activities for triggering multiple inspiratory motor bursts.