Medullary expiratory activity during opossum development.

Medullary expiration-phased action potentials were obtained from 5-sec-butyl-5-ethyl-2-thiobarbituric acid- (Inactin) anesthetized suckling opossums from approximately 30 days of age to near weaning (80-90 days of age). The medulla was explored for expiratory neuronal action potentials during positive pressure breathing (PPB) (approximately 3 cmH2O) because many expiratory cells had little or no discharge during spontaneous breathing off load. After finding an expiratory unit, the response of the cell to removal (30-60 s) and reinstatement of PPB was measured. Projections to the spinal cord were also examined, and position of the cell was assessed. Results were compared with those obtained from rostral and caudal medullary expiratory neurons in adult opossums. Mean discharge rate of expiratory cells during PPB increased as a function of age. Discharge started with a delay after the cessation of inspiration; this delay decreased as a function of age. Cells averaged 7.5 spikes/breath during PPB and 2.2 spikes/breath off load. Forty-four percent of cells discharged less than once per breath when PPB was removed. Of cells becoming completely silent off load, 73% lost their discharge within the first two unloaded breaths. Only 5% of caudal and 15% of rostral medullary expiratory cells in adult opossums became silent after the end-expiratory transpulmonary pressure was reduced to normal. Neurons in sucklings were most often bulbospinal as were caudal medullary cells in adults; neurons were found in the region of the nucleus ambiguus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)