Reactions and Functional Relationships between Nonrespiratory Neurons in the Medulla Oblongata after Central Application of Penicillin

Abstract

Changes in impulse activity of nonrespiratory neurons in the medulla oblongata produced by central administration of penicillin were studied in acute experiments on narcotized immobilized rats. The mean firing frequency increased in most neurons. The peaks on histograms for the distribution of interspike intervals were shifted toward shorter intervals and their amplitude increased; the type of distribution was also changed. Tonic activity of neurons was transformed into burst activity. Study of auto- and cross-correlation histograms for neuronal pairs showed that hyperactivation of structures was accompanied by an increase in the degree of synchronization. These changes reflect the appearance of new functional relationships between neurons in the respiratory center. We found that nonrespiratory reticular neurons are involved in the mechanisms of normal and pathological respiratory rhythm generation and serve as a functionally labile component of the neuronal respiratory network.