Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Respiratory responses to combined hypoxia and hypothermia in rats after posterior hypothalamic lesions

  • Published:
Pflügers Archiv Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Urethane-anaesthetised rats were exposed to hypoxia (7% O2 in N2) for 5 min periods while body core temperature (T bc) was maintained within the normal range (37–38° C) using an abdominal heat exchanger. Animals were exposed to hypoxia and after placement of electrolytic lesions in either the anterior (n=6) or posterior hypothalamus (n=6). Neither lesion altered respiration while rats breathed air at either T bc. At normal T bc, rats responded to hypoxia with increased ventilation throughout the exposure period. This response was unchanged by lesions in either location. At reduced T bc rats responded to hypoxia with an initial increase in ventilation followed by depression to below air-breathing levels. This depressive response was unchanged after anterior hypothalamic lesions but eliminated after posterior hypothalamic lesions. It is concluded that neurons either originating in the posterior hypothalamus, or passing through it, play a role in the interaction between cold and hypoxia which leads to inhibition of respiration.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Allan GV, Hopkins DA (1990) Topography and synaptology of mammillary body projection to the mesencephalon and pons in the rat. J. Comp Neurol 301:213–231

    Google Scholar 

  2. Amini-Sereshki L, Zarrindast MR (1984) Brain stem tonic inhibition of thermoregulation in the rat. Am J Physiol 247:R154-R159

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Ballanyi K, Kuwana S, Volker A, Morawietz G, Richter DW (1992) Developmental changes in the hypoxia tolerance of the in vitro respiratory network of rats. Neurosci Lett. 148:141–144

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Conrad CLA, Pfaff DW (1976) Efferent projections from medial basal forebrain and hypothalamus in the rat. II. An autoradiographic study of the anterior hypothalamus. J Comp Neurol 169:221–262

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Dupre RK, Owen LT (1992) Behavioral thermoregulation by hypoxic rats. J Exp Zool 262:230–235

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Eldridge FL, Gill-Kumar P, Millhorn DE (1981) Input-output relationships of central neural circuits involved in respiration in the cat. J Physiol (Lond) 311:81–95

    Google Scholar 

  7. Evans MH (1976) Stimulation of the rabbit hypothalamus: caudal Projections to respiratory and cardiovascular centres. J Physiol (Lond) 260:205–222

    Google Scholar 

  8. Frapell P, Lanthier C, Baudinette RV, Mortola JP (1992) Metabolism and ventilation in acute hypoxia: a comparative analysis in small mammalian species. Am J Physiol 262:R1040-R1046

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Gautier H, Gaudy JH (1986) Ventilatory recovery from hypothermia in anaesthetised cats. Respir Physiol 64:329–337

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Gautier H, Bonora M, Zaoui D (1990) Effects of carotid denervation and decerebration on ventilatory response to CO. J Appl Physiol 69:1423–1428

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Gautier H, Bonora M, Ben M'Barek S, Sinclair JD (1991) Effects of hypoxia and cold acclimation on thermo-regulation in the rat. J Appl Physiol 71:1355–1363

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Gluckman PD, Johnston BM (1987) Lesions in the upper lateral pons abolish the hypoxic depression of breathing in unanesthetised fetal lambs in utero. J Physiol (Lond) 382:373–383

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kiley JP, Eldridge FL, Millhorn DE (1985) Respiration during hypothermia: effect of rewarming intermediate area of central medulla. J Appl Physiol 59:1423–1427

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Kooy D van der, Koda LY, McGinty JF, Gerfen CR, Bloom FE (1984) The organization of projections from the cortex, amygdala and hypothalamus to the nucleus of the solitary tract in the rat. J Comp Neurol 224:1–24

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Krettick JE, Price JL (1977) A description of the amygdaloid complex in the rat and cat, with observations on intra amygdaloidal axonal connections. J Comp Neurol 178:225–254

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kuhnen G, Block B, Wunnenberg W (1987) Effects of acute hypoxia and/or hypercapnia on body temperatures and cold induced thermogenesis in the golden hamster. J Therm Biol 12:103–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Martin-Body RL (1988) Brain transections demonstrate the central origin of hypoxic ventilatory depression in carotid body-denervated rats. J Physiol (Lond) 407:41–52

    Google Scholar 

  18. Martin-Body RL, Johnston BM (1988) Central origin of the hypoxic depression of breathing in the newborn. Respir Physiol 71:25–32

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Maskrey M (1990) Body temperature effects on hypoxic and hypercapnic responses in awake rats. Am J Physiol 259:R492-R498

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Maskrey M, Megirian D, Nicol SC (1981) Effects of decortication and carotid sinus nerve section on ventilation of the rat. Respir Physiol 58:263–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Monteau R, Hilaire G (1977) Recyclage de l'inspiration et polypnee obtenus par stimulation electrique de l'hypothalamus. J Physiol (Paris) 73:1057–1079

    Google Scholar 

  22. Mortola JP, Dotta A (1992) Effects of hypoxia and ambient temperature on gaseous metabolism of newborn rats. Am J Physiol 263:R267-R272

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Nielsen AM, Bisgard GE, Mitchell GS (1986) Phrenic nerve responses to hypoxia and CO2 in decerebrate dogs. Respir Physiol 65:267–283

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Niewenhuys R, Geeraedts LMG, Veeming JG (1982) The medial forebrain bundle of the rat. 1. General introduction. J Comp Neurol 206:49–81

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Pachomov N (1962) The effects of posterior and anterior hypothalamic lesions on the maintenance of body temperature in the rat. J Neuropath Exp Neurol 21:450–460

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Pasquier DA, Reinoso-Suarez F (1978) The topographic organisation of hypothalamic and brain stem projections to the hippocampus. Brain Res Bull 3:373–389

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Peano CA, Shonis CA, Dillon GH, Waldrop TG (1991) Hypothalamic GABAergic mechanism involved in respiratory response to hypercapnia. Brain Res Bull 28:107–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Redgate ES (1963) Hypothalamic influence on respiration. Ann NY Acad Sci 109:606–618

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Riche D, Pommery J de, Menetrey D (1990) Neuropeptides and catecholamines in efferent projections of the nuclei of the solitary tract in the rat. J Comp Neurol 293:394–424

    Google Scholar 

  30. Richter DW, Bischoff A, Anders K, Bellingham M, Windhorst U (1991) Response of the medullary respiratory network of the cat to hypoxia. J Physiol (Lond) 443:231–256

    Google Scholar 

  31. Rothwell NJ, Stock MJ, Thexton AJ (1983) Decerebration activates thermogenesis in the rat. J Physiol (Lond) 342:15–22

    Google Scholar 

  32. Saper CB, Loewy AD, Swanson LW, Cowan WM (1976) Direct hypothalamo-autonomic connections. Brain Res 117:304–312

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Sica AL, Gandhi MR (1990) Efferent phrenic nerve and respiratory neuron activities in the developing kitten: spontaneous discharges and hypoxic responses. Brain Res 524:254–262

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Tamaki Y, Nakayama T (1987) Effects of air constituents on thermosensitivities of preoptic neurons: hypoxia versus hypercapnia. Pflügers Arch 409:1–6

    Google Scholar 

  35. Tenney SM, Ou LC (1977) Ventilatory response of decorticate and decerebrate cats to hypoxia and CO2. Respir Physiol 29:81–92

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Waldrop TG (1991) Posterior hypothalamic modulation of the respiratory response to CO2 in cats. Pflügers Arch 418:7–13

    Google Scholar 

  37. Waldrop TG, Mullins DC, Millhorn DE (1986) Control of respiration by the hypothalamus and by feedback from contracting muscles in cats. Respir Physiol 64:317–328

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Wunnenberg W, Hardy JD (1972) Response of single units of the posterior hypothalamus to thermal stimulation. J Appl Physiol 33:547–552

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Yardley CP, Hilton SM (1986) The hypothalamic and brainstem areas from which the cardiovascular and behavioural components of the defence reaction are elicited in the rat. J Auton Nerv Syst 15:227–244

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, University of Tasmania at Hobart, GPO Box 252C, 7001, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

    Michael Maskrey

  2. Department of Anatomy, University of Tasmania at Hobart, GPO Box 252C, 7001, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

    Colin F. L. Hinrichsen

Authors
  1. Michael Maskrey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Colin F. L. Hinrichsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Maskrey, M., Hinrichsen, C.F.L. Respiratory responses to combined hypoxia and hypothermia in rats after posterior hypothalamic lesions. Pflugers Arch. 426, 371–377 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00388299

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00388299

Key words

Search

Navigation