Neural Control of Phrenic Motoneuron Discharge

Overview

Journal Respir Physiol Neurobiol

Specialty Pulmonary Medicine

Date 2011 Mar 8

PMID 21376841

Citations 33

Authors

Kun-Ze Lee

David D Fuller

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Phrenic motoneurons (PMNs) provide a synaptic relay between bulbospinal respiratory pathways and the diaphragm muscle. PMNs also receive propriospinal inputs, although the functional role of these interneuronal projections has not been established. Here we review the literature regarding PMN discharge patterns during breathing and the potential mechanisms that underlie PMN recruitment. Anatomical and neurophysiological studies indicate that PMNs form a heterogeneous pool, with respiratory-related PMN discharge and recruitment patterns likely determined by a balance between intrinsic MN properties and extrinsic synaptic inputs. We also review the limited literature regarding PMN bursting during respiratory plasticity. Differential recruitment or rate modulation of PMN subtypes may underlie phrenic motor plasticity following neural injury and/or respiratory stimulation; however, this possibility remains relatively unexplored.

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