Persistence of the Hering-Breuer reflex beyond the neonatal period

There is conflicting evidence regarding the persistence of the Hering-Breuer reflex (HBR) beyond the 1st wk of life. This study was designed to assess the influence of postnatal age on the HBR. The airway occlusion technique was used to assess changes in respiratory timing during stimulation of the HBR in healthy full-term unsedated infants measured shortly after birth and at 6-8 wk of life. The strength of the HBR was assessed from the relative change in expiratory time (TE) after end-inspiratory occlusion compared with resting TE during spontaneous breathing. Paired studies were performed in 31 infants at approximately 2 days and 6 wk of age. There was a significant increase in TE during each occlusion in every infant irrespective of age at measurement. No maturational changes were observed. The increase in TE after end-inspiratory occlusion was 91.9 +/- 31.6% (SD) (range 38-158%) at approximately 2 days and 89.8 +/- 30.7% (range 44-175%) at approximately 6 wk. We conclude that the activity of the HBR during tidal breathing persists beyond the neonatal period and that there is no statistically significant change in its strength during the first 2 mo life in healthy infants during natural sleep.