Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 60, Issue 6 2015-2019, Copyright © 1986 by American Physiological Society
Role of endogenous opiates in hypoxic ventilatory response in the newborn primate
D. E. Mayock, W. A. LaFramboise, R. D. Guthrie, T. A. Standaert and D. E. Woodrum
The effects of opiate receptor antagonism by naltrexone hydrochloride on
the biphasic hypoxic ventilatory response in the infant Macaca nemestrina
have been investigated. Minute ventilation, tidal volume, and respiratory
frequency were measured in six animals from timed gestations before and
during inhalation of a hypoxic gas mixture. All studies were completed in
non-rapid-eye-movement sleep. Arterial blood gases were obtained during
each stimulus period. All animals demonstrated the typical biphasic
ventilatory response to acute moderate-severe hypoxemia. After the
administration of naltrexone hydrochloride to block opiate receptors, the
animals still manifested a biphasic hypoxic response that was no different
than that noted prior to drug administration. Naltrexone hydrochloride had
no effect on room air resting ventilation in any of the animals. Our data
suggest that endogenous opiates play no physiological role in the acute
ventilatory response to moderate-severe hypoxia in the newborn subhuman
primate.
