Effect of body temperature on respiratory frequency in vagotomized rabbits.

ABSTRACT

The temperature coefficients of the fundamental central respiratory frequency (fo), cycle duration (Tco), and inspiratory duration (TIo) were estimated, and their values were 5.3, -5.3 and -2.7, respectively. These results suggest that the fundamental respiratory pacemaker is under the influence of some thermosensitive mechanisms or is thermosensitive by itself, while the mechanism controlling the inspiratory duration is unaffected by thermosensitive mechanisms.