Research

Short reflex expirations (expiration reflexes) induced by mechanical stimulation of the trachea in anesthetized cats

Ivan Poliacek^1,2 , Melanie J Rose¹ , Lu Wen-Chi Corrie¹ , Cheng Wang¹ , Jan Jakus² , Helena Barani² , Albert Stransky² , Hubert Polacek³ , Erika Halasova⁴ and Donald C Bolser¹

¹  Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, PO box 100144, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, Florida, 32610-0144, USA

²  Department of Medical Biophysics, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Mala Hora 4, 037 54, Martin, Slovakia

³  Clinic of Radiodiagnostics, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin, Slovakia

⁴  Department of Medical Biology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Martin, Slovakia

author email corresponding author email

Cough 2008, 4:1doi:10.1186/1745-9974-4-1

Published:	28 April 2008

Abstract

Fifty spontaneously breathing pentobarbital-anesthetized cats were used to determine the incidence rate and parameters of short reflex expirations induced by mechanical stimulation of the tracheal mucosa (ERt). The mechanical stimuli evoked coughs; in addition, 67.6% of the stimulation trials began with ERt. The expiration reflex mechanically induced from the glottis (ERg) was also analyzed (99.5% incidence, p < 0.001 compared to the incidence of ERt). We found that the amplitudes of abdominal, laryngeal abductor posterior cricoarytenoid, and laryngeal adductor thyroarytenoid electromyograms (EMG) were significantly enhanced in ERg relative to ERt. Peak intrathoracic pressure (esophageal or intra-pleural pressure) was higher during ERg than ERt. The interval between the peak in EMG activity of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle and that of the EMG of abdominal muscles was lower in ERt compared to ERg. The duration of thyroarytenoid EMG activity associated with ERt was shorter than that in ERg. All other temporal features of the pattern of abdominal, posterior cricoarytenoid, and thyroarytenoid muscles EMGs were equivalent in ERt and ERg.

In an additional 8 cats, the effect of codeine administered via the vertebral artery was tested. Codeine, in a dose (0.03 mg/kg) that markedly suppressed cough did not significantly alter either the incidence rate or magnitudes of ERt.

In the anesthetized cat the ERt induced by mechanical stimulation of the trachea was similar to the ERg from the glottis. These two reflex responses differ substantially only in the frequency of occurrence in response to mechanical stimulus and in the intensity of motor output.