Neural organization of the ventilatory activity in the frog, Rana catesbeiana. II.

The paralyzed, decerebrate frog, Rana catesbeiana, displays "fictive" oropharyngeal and pulmonary ventilations. In order to evaluate the neuronal correlates of these two centrally programmed ventilatory bursting patterns, we have performed intra- and extracellular recordings of bulbar respiratory neurons in this fictively breathing preparation. A total of 123 respiratory neurons were recorded from the caudal medulla. Of 51 antidromically activated neurons, 20 were vagal motoneurons and 31 were hypoglossal motoneurons. Respiratory neurons that depolarized during the lung (L) or non-lung (N) ventilatory phases were classified as L or N neurons, respectively. Phase spanning neurons (S) were active during both L and N phases. Some neurons showed oscillations of membrane potential synchronous with oropharyngeal ventilation. Those active during the buccal elevation phase were exclusively L neurons, whereas those having buccal depressor activity were exclusively N neurons. Synaptic drive potentials were observed in all neurons recorded intracellularly. In some neurons, hyperpolarization was caused by inhibitory postsynaptic potentials, as demonstrated by reversal of membrane potential trajectory after intracellular chloride iontophoresis. Some individual motoneurons and interneurons exhibited both pulmonary and buccal ventilatory activity, indicating that both pattern generators project to a common motor control system.