Significance of extracellular potassium in central respiratory control studied in the isolated brainstem-spinal cord preparation of the neonatal rat

The significance of extracellular potassium in central respiratory control was investigated using the isolated brainstem–spinal cord preparation of the neonatal rat. Depth profiles of extracellular potassium activity ([K+])ECF in the medulla were measured with ion-sensitive microelectrodes. Although [K+]ECF increased with depth in medullary tissue during control (4 mM) and low (1 mM) potassium concentration ([K+])CSF superfusion, this gradient disappeared with higher [K+]CSF. With low [K+]CSF (1 mM), respiratory CO2 responsiveness was abolished, and increased with high [K+]CSF (8 mM). Respiratory frequency (fR) was diminished at low [K+]CSF (1 mM), and increased with elevated [K+]CSF (8 and 16 mM); with yet higher [K+]CSF (32 mM) apnea occurred after a transient increase in fR. Perforated patch recording revealed that high [K+]ECF decreased membrane resistance, depolarized membrane potential, and increased firing frequency in most of the recorded medullary neurons. High [K+]ECF also increased excitatory and inhibitory post-synaptic potentials of medullary neurons and augmented the functional connectivity among neurons. It is concluded that [K+]ECF is of importance in the maintenance of respiratory rhythm and central chemosensitivity.