Stimulation of the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray matter (dl-PAG) in rats evokes a cardiorespiratory response characterised by an increase of blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory frequency. In previous studies we have demonstrated a functional interaction between dlPAG and the pontine A5 region (Peinado-Aragonés C.A., 2016). A5 region modulates the cardiorespiratory response evoked from the dlPAG and it is also involved in the changes of laryngeal caliber (Lara et al., 2002). The aim of this study was to characterise the relationship between mesencephalic-pontine neuronal circuits to understand their role in laryngeal control and its effect on vocalization.
Experimental studies were carried out with non-inbred male rats (n=7), Animals were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone (60 mg/kg i.p., initial dose, supplemented 2 mg/ kg, i.v., as necessary). A double tracheal cannulation (upwards in direction of the glottis for the “glottis isolated in situ” technique) was performed. Subglottic pressure was recorded with an aneroid transducer by passing a stream of humidified medical air upwards through the larynx at a constant rate of 30-70 ml/min with a thermal mass digital air flow meter controller. Electrical stimulation of the dlPAG using concentric bipolar electrodes (1 ms pulses, 20-40 µA, 100 Hz for 5 s) was performed.
dlPAG stimulation evoked a decrease of laryngeal resistance (subglottal pressure) (p<0,001) accompanied with an inspiratory facilitatory response consisted of an increase in respiratory rate (p<0,001), together with a pressor (p<0,001) and a tachycardic response (p<0,001).
Our variation of the classical technique for the recording of the“isolated glottis in situ”in rats shows good dynamic responses and can be perfectly used as an index of subglottic pressure and laryngeal activity, thus our results contribute with new data on the role of the dlPAG in the control mechanisms of subglottic pressure and laryngeal activity
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