Endogenous activation of neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) expressing ventral respiratory group (VRG) neurons by somatic afferent stimulation

Abstract

Previous work from our laboratory has demonstrated that: 1) exogenous activation of NK1Rs increased the firing rate of functionally‐identified VRG neurons (Fong and Potts, 2004); and 2) somatic afferent stimulation excited augmenting expiratory neurons (E aug , Potts et al., 2005). The aim of the current study was to examine the role of endogenous activation of NK1Rs on inspiratory‐ (I) and expiratory‐(E) related VRG neurons. Using the in situ arterially‐perfused rat preparation, we used multibarrel microelectrodes to record extracellular activity from 32 VRG neurons during electrically‐evoked muscle contraction...