Correlation analysis of respiratory neuron activity in ventrolateral medulla of brainstem-spinal cord preparation isolated from newborn rat.

Cross-correlation analysis was used to study functional connections between one inspiratory (I) neuron and another, and between one pre-inspiratory (Pre-I) neuron and another, in 54 brainstem-spinal cord preparations isolated from newborn rats. Pre-I neurons usually fired in the pre- and post-inspiratory phases. Neurons were recorded extracellularly with pairs of microelectrodes placed on the same or opposite sides of the brainstem. Fourteen pairs of Pre-I neurons recorded bilaterally in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVL), 14 pairs of ipsilateral Pre-I neurons in the RVL, 14 pairs of bilateral I neurons in the RVL and 12 pairs of ipsilateral I neurons in the ventrolateral medulla were studied. Cross-correlation histograms (CCHs) were computed. Significantly high peak bin counts were detected in 24 of 54 pairs. Peaks on one side of the origin of the CCHs were observed for one pair of ipsilateral Pre-I neurons, four pairs of bilateral I neurons and five pairs of ipsilateral I neurons. These findings suggest mono- or oligo-synaptic excitatory connections between paired neurons or shared inputs. Only one trough suggesting an oligo-synaptic inhibitory connection was evident in a CCH obtained from the pair of bilateral I neurons. This CCH revealed the peak and the trough on opposite sides of the origin, which was consistent with reciprocal excitatory and inhibitory connections between recorded neurons. Peaks on both sides of the origin were observed for three pairs of bilateral I neurons. From auto-correlation analysis and the latencies of these peaks, two of the three CCHs were consistent with reciprocal excitatory connections between recorded neurons, whereas the other CCH suggests shared inputs. Peaks at the origin were observed for two pairs of ipsilateral Pre-I neurons, four pairs of bilateral I neurons and five pairs of ipsilateral I neurons. These results suggest shared inputs. For Pre-I neurons recorded in opposite sides, no significant bin counts were detected. Peaks on one side were detected for three pairs. Present results suggest short-term synchronisation of I neurons, and of Pre-I neurons via excitatory coupling, and the likelihood of comparatively strong interaction between I neurons, which may be important in maintaining the I burst.