The pontine Kölliker-Fuse nucleus is important for reduced post-inspiratory airflow elicited by stimulation of the ventral respiratory parafacial region

Considering that the retrotrapezoid nucleus/respiratory parafacial region (RTN/pFRG) would be an important center in the central nervous system involved in the maintenance and modulation of respiratory activity, we hypothesized that neurons in this nucleus would also be involved in the postinspiratory (post-I) phase of the respiratory cycle through a connection with the pontine Kölliker-Fuse (KF) region. Here, we performed pharmacogenetic manipulation (AAV-hM3D(Gq)-mCherry or AAV-hM4D(Gi)-mCherry) in VGlut2-cre, Ai6 conscious mice to evaluate breathing parameters through whole body plethysmography under baseline conditions (normoxia: Formula: see text = 0.21) or under hypercapnia or hypoxia challenges (Formula: see text = 0.07 or Formula: see text = 0.08). Under normoxia, selective stimulation of RTN/pFRG resulted in a smaller increase in V̇e (1,272 ± 102.5, vs. RTN/pFRG stimulation: 1,878 ± 122.1 mL/kg/min), due to a smaller increase in V