Divergent effects of bicuculline and picrotoxin on ketamine-induced apneustic breathing.

This study tested the potential role of inhibitory neurotransmission in the mechanism of apneustic respiration evoked by ketamine, an NMDA receptors antagonist. In the experiments performed in anesthetized, paralyzed, and ventilated cats, ketamine, in a dose of 0.5 mg/kg, was administered before and after GABA(A) receptor blockade with picrotoxin or bicuculline; all agents were given intravenously. Ketamine elicited a transient, hourlong apneustic respiration consisting of an increase in inspiratory duration and a decrease in inspiratory neural amplitude. After prior administration of picrotoxin, but not bicuculline, the maximum apneustic-like prolongation of inspiration evoked by ketamine was considerably reduced. The results suggest that the GABA receptor subunits specifically sensitive to picrotoxin play a role in shaping the ketamine-induced apneustic breathing.