Inhibition of ventilation by carotid body hypocapnia during sleep.

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Apneas and hypopneas during sleep, however caused, are typically preceded by hyperventilation and concomitant hypocapnia (Dempsey & Skatrud, 1986). This hypocapnia is a transient event and would most likely be sensed primarily by the carotid body chemoreceptors. We asked, therefore, whether hypocapnia isolated to the carotid body would inhibit ventilation and, if so, whether this inhibition would be dependent on state of consciousness. To answer this question we studied unanesthetized dogs during normal sleep and wakefulness using a preparation in which blood gases in the perfusate supplying the carotid sinus region could be controlled in isolation from the systemic circulation.