[Respiration in the cat following destruction of the dorsal respiratory nucleus].

The effect of the lesion of dorsal respiratory nucleus (DRN) upon the duration of respiratory phases, lung ventilation and the symmetry of excitation of diaphragmatic nerves, was studied in decerebrated cats. The lesion entailed an elongation of inspiration (by 61%) and expiration (by 29%), increased the CO2 contents in alveolar air (by 12%), decreased the lung ventilation per minute (by 15%) and did not disturb the symmetry of excitation of both diaphragmatic nuclei. No apneustic respiration was observed. The data obtained suggest the DRN participation in the mechanism of the inspiration switching off and the presence of the control systems coordinating the excitation of symmetrical pools of diaphragmatic motoneurons.