Centrally driven slow oscillating potential of extrathoracic trachea.

Spontaneous electrical activity of extrathoracic trachea was recorded along with force developed by tracheal smooth muscle and phrenic nerve activity in decerebrated, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated dogs with pneumothorax. The tracheal electrical activity exhibited slow oscillating potentials that were coupled with spontaneous phasic contraction of trachea. Both rhythmic changes were synchronous with central respiratory rhythm represented by phrenic burst, independent of the respirator's rhythm. The dominant component of the slow oscillating potentials consisted of sinusoidal waves with large amplitude that occurred shortly after cessation of phrenic burst, i.e., in the postinspiratory phase. The concomitant small change in the slow oscillating potentials began in the late inspiratory phase just before the initiation of the tracheal contraction. This phase relationship was preserved after removal of intrathoracic vagal afferents from lungs. Such slow oscillating potentials were also observed during lung collapse produced by disconnecting the tube attached to the respirator. Transection of recurrent laryngeal nerves abolished the slow oscillating potentials. These results indicate that the slow oscillating potentials of the extrathoracic trachea are generated by a physiological process associated with the central respiratory rhythm. The dominant component of the slow oscillating potentials occurs in the postinspiratory phase.