Role of the Kölliker-Fuse/Parabrachial Complex in generation of post-inspiratory vagal and sympathetic nerve activities

Inhibition of neurons in the pontine Kölliker–Fuse/parabrachial complex (KF-PBN) differentially inhibited postinspiratory (post-I) activity in vagal and sympathetic outputs. The strong recruitment of post-I vagal activity that occurs in response to hypoxemia is selectively abolished by KF-PBN inhibition. This suggests that 1) post-I activity in vagal and sympathetic outputs may be generated by partially independent mechanisms and 2) neurons in the KF-PBN are a preeminent source of drive for the generation of eupneic post-I activity.