Effects of bicuculline on inspiratory activities in piglets

Antagonism of the α receptor sub-type at γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) recognition sites in developing pigs was evaluated using the GABA A receptor antagonist bicuculline. The effect of bicuculline infusions was to produce an increase of phrenic and hypoglossal discharge amplitudes. This bicuculline-induced effect on discharge amplitude was manifested in autopower spectra as an increase in the power of peaks located in the medium-frequency (10–50 Hz) band. More importantly, coherence estimates were increased by bicuculline administration demonstrating GABA-mediated influences on a central pattern generator with output in the 10–50 Hz band.