Dual oscillator model of the respiratory neuronal network generating quantal slowing of respiratory rhythm
We developed a dual oscillator model to facilitate the understanding of dynamic interactions between the parafacial respiratory group (pFRG) and the preBtzinger complex (preBtC) neurons in the respiratory rhythm generation. Both neuronal groups were modeled as groups of81 interconnected pacemaker neurons; the bursting cell model described by Butera and others [model 1 in Butera et al. (J Neurophysiol 81:382397, 1999a)] were used to model the pacemaker neurons. We assumed (1) both pFRG and preBtC networks are rhythm generators, (2) preBtC receives excitatory inputs from pFRG, and pFRG receives inhibitory inputs from preBtC, and (3) persistent Na+ current conductance and synaptic current conductances are randomly distributed within each population. Our model could reproduce 1:1 coupling of bursting rhythms between pFRG and preBtC with the characteristic biphasic firing pattern of pFRG neurons, i.e., firings during pre-inspiratory and post-inspiratory phases. Compatible with experimental results, the model predicted the changes in firing pattern of pFRG neurons from biphasic expiratory to monophasic inspiratory, synchronous with preBtC neurons. Quantal slowing, a phenomena of prolonged respiratory period that jumps non-deterministically to integer multiples of the control period, was observed when the excitability of preBtC network decreased while strengths of synaptic connections between the two groups remained unchanged, suggesting that, in contrast to the earlier suggestions (Mellen et al., Neuron 37:821826, 2003; Wittmeier et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 105(46):1800018005, 2008), quantal slowing could occur without suppressed or stochastic excitatory synaptic transmission. With a reduced excitability of preBtC network, the breakdown of synchronous bursting of preBtC neurons was predicted by simulation. We suggest that quantal slowing could result from a breakdown of synchronized bursting within the preBtC.
neuronal networks quantal slowing respiratory rhythm generation rhythm coupling numerical simulation