Effect of Picrotoxin on Electrical Excitability of the Respiratory Center

Summary A technique has been described whereby electrical stimulation of the respiratory center can be employed to directly determine the influence on the respiratory center of various drugs affecting respiration. Picrotoxin has been shown to produce a marked and prolonged increase in the sensitivity of the inspiratory center of the cat to direct electrical stimulation. It is believed that the technique which has been described can be used to advantage to contribute additional information to our knowledge of drugs affecting respiration.