Mammalian brainstem chemosensitive neurones: linking them to respiration in vitro

Neurones which are excited by CO2 or H+ are present in a number of brainste m structures in addition to the ventrolateral region of the medulla, the si te at which the respiratory response to hypercapnia is traditionally believ ed to originate. In this review we examine recent work concerned with estab lishing the relationship between these chemosensitive neurones and respirat ion, the emphasis being placed on the use for this purpose of in vitro prep arations of the mammalian brainstem.