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J Appl Physiol 83: 1923-1932, 1997;
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Vol. 83, Issue 6, 1923-1932, December 1997

Neural-mechanical coupling of breathing in REM sleep

C. A. Smith, K. S. Henderson, L. Xi, C.-M. Chow, P. R. Eastwood, and J. A. Dempsey

The John Rankin Laboratory of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Madison, Wisconsin 53705-2368

ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
FOOTNOTES
REFERENCES


ABSTRACT

Smith, C. A., K. S. Henderson, L. Xi, C.-M. Chow, P. R. Eastwood, and J. A. Dempsey. Neural-mechanical coupling of breathing in REM sleep. J. Appl. Physiol. 83(6): 1923-1932, 1997.---During rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep the ventilatory response to airway occlusion is reduced. Possible mechanisms are reduced chemosensitivity, mechanical impairment of the chest wall secondary to the atonia of REM sleep, or phasic REM events that interrupt or fractionate ongoing diaphragm electromyogram (EMG) activity. To differentiate between these possibilities, we studied three chronically instrumented dogs before, during, and after 15-20 s of airway occlusion during non-REM (NREM) and phasic REM sleep. We found that 1) for a given inspiratory time the integrated diaphragm EMG (<LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di) was similar or reduced in REM sleep relative to NREM sleep; 2) for a given <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di in response to airway occlusion and the hyperpnea following occlusion, the mechanical output (flow or pressure) was similar or reduced during REM sleep relative to NREM sleep; 3) for comparable durations of airway occlusion the <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di and integrated inspiratory tracheal pressure tended to be smaller and more variable in REM than in NREM sleep, and 4) significant fractionations (caused visible changes in tracheal pressure) of the diaphragm EMG during airway occlusion in REM sleep occurred in ~40% of breathing efforts. Thus reduced and/or erratic mechanical output during and after airway occlusion in REM sleep in terms of flow rate, tidal volume, and/or pressure generation is attributable largely to reduced neural activity of the diaphragm, which in turn is likely attributable to REM effects, causing reduced chemosensitivity at the level of the peripheral chemoreceptors or, more likely, at the central integrator. Chest wall distortion secondary to the atonia of REM sleep may contribute to the reduced mechanical output following airway occlusion when ventilatory drive is highest.

dogs; rapid-eye-movement sleep; non-rapid-eye-movement sleep; obstructive apnea; sleep-disordered breathing


INTRODUCTION

THE REGULATION OF BREATHING in rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, especially "phasic" REM sleep, is substantially different from that in non-REM (NREM) sleep (21, 26). During eupnea, frequency is generally higher and more variable and tidal volume (VT) is reduced in REM sleep; during airway occlusion or with increased arterial PCO2 (PaCO2), the more negative tracheal pressure (Ptr) values and/or increases in flow rate tend to be more erratic and blunted in contrast to the predictable, progressive responses to increasing chemoreceptor stimuli observed in NREM sleep (5, 27, 30). After release of airway occlusion in NREM sleep, marked overshoots of flow rate and VT occur and in turn often lead to central apnea. In contrast, in phasic REM sleep the VT responses following occlusion are generally much smaller and more variable, and central apneas are very rare (2, 29).

The goal of the present study was to determine the cause(s) of the decreased ventilatory responses during and after airway occlusion in REM sleep. The three most likely causes of these effects of REM sleep on the ventilatory responses are 1) increased distortion of the chest wall during inspiratory efforts secondary to the atonia of rib cage and accessory respiratory muscles, thus compromising neural-to-mechanical coupling [i.e., a given inspiratory neural/EMG input produces less mechanical (pressure and flow) output] (20, 21); 2) decreased responsiveness of chemoreceptors and/or of medullary integration of chemoreceptor input to the asphyxic stimuli developed during the occlusion (27); and 3) phasic REM events that cause fractionations of neural input to inspiratory muscles (16).

The present study analyzed the flow rates or Ptr and diaphragm electromyogram (EMG) obtained in NREM and REM sleep in three dogs during eupnea, during airway occlusion, and after occlusion. The findings support a major role for a decreased and highly variable neural respiratory motor output, as reflected in the diaphragm EMG in REM sleep, in accounting for the limited and erratic pressure and ventilatory responses obtained during eupnea and especially during and after airway occlusion. Chest wall distortion may also contribute to the reduced ventilatory responses following airway occlusion where ventilatory drive is highest.


METHODS

General. The present study consists of an analysis of measurements of diaphragm EMG and of mechanical ventilatory output in three dogs studied during NREM and REM sleep. Data on ventilatory output and breath timing obtained in these same experimental trials have been previously reported in studies concerned with causes of sleep apnea (5, 29), and the methods and protocol for the studies reported here have been presented in detail in those studies. Briefly, under general anesthesia, three trained, female dogs were surgically prepared with chronic tracheostomies, and bipolar, multistrand, Teflon-coated stainless steel EMG electrodes were implanted into the crural diaphragm. The free ends of the electrodes were tunneled under the skin and exteriorized near the scapulae. After healing, the dogs were intubated with cuffed endotracheal tubes and allowed to sleep in our canine sleep laboratory. The dogs were free to choose their own posture, either prone or lateral recumbent, and once chosen, their posture did not change between NREM and REM sleep.

Measurements. Diaphragm EMG and mechanical output variables were acquired breath by breath using a computer-based analysis system developed in our laboratory. Airflow rate was obtained by means of a pneumotachograph attached to the endotracheal tube. The pneumotachograph was calibrated daily against five known flow rates. VT was calculated by digital integration of the airflow signal. Ptr was obtained by means of a pressure catheter in the endotracheal tube that was attached to a pressure transducer (Validyne). Integrated inspiratory Ptr (<LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Ptr, i.e., area under the inspiratory pressure waveform) was derived by computer. Raw EMGs were amplified, rectified, and moving time averaged with a 100-ms time constant. Integrated diaphragm activity (<LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di, i.e., area under moving-time-average waveform) was derived by computer. The <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di is reported in arbitrary units, normalized to the daily mean of all eupneic, NREM breaths recorded for a given dog. Fractionations of the diaphragm EMG were determined manually from the raw diaphragm EMG signal. Fractionations were defined as EMG silence for >50 ms during inspiration.

Sleep state was determined by means of a five-lead montage of percutaneous Basmajian-type wire electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes and standard criteria (see Ref. 29 for details). In the present study we examined only NREM and phasic REM sleep. Phasic REM sleep was defined as a desynchronization of EEG, eye movement density >0.25/s (the average during REM sleep was ~0.35/s), and loss of EMG activity in the nuchal muscles. Any trials that did not meet these criteria were excluded from analysis.

Choice of electrical and mechanical variables. There are at least three potential ways to express neural-mechanical coupling of breathing in REM sleep. One method is to use the rate of rise of the moving time average of diaphragm EMG and its mechanical analogs, VT-to-inspiratory time (TI) ratio or rate of fall of Ptr. A second method is to compare peak EMG activity of the diaphragm and its mechanical analogs, peak inspiratory flow and peak Ptr. A third method is to compare <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di with its mechanical analogs, VT and Ptr. We have chosen to use the latter method in this study of phasic REM sleep in the dog because of problems associated with determination of a meaningful rate of rise (or fall) in EMG, pressure, or flow. These problems are present throughout REM sleep but can be best illustrated by an example from an occlusion trial (Fig. 1). Breath 1 (the last eupneic, nonoccluded breath) shows a reasonably ramplike increase in EMG activity and inspiratory flow; however, the remaining breaths in this trial illustrate various problems. Breaths 2-4 present almost rectangular waveforms (i.e., very steep initial rate of rise followed by a slowly rising plateau). Breaths 5 and 6 have two distinct slopes in each breath, and breath 6 has a clear decrease in activity in the middle of the breath. These different shapes are reflected in Ptr during the occlusion. Thus determining a true rate of rise is problematic for electrical and mechanical variables. Clearly, a simple peak-over-time approach could badly over- or underestimate the rate of rise. Similarly, examining the rate of rise over the early portion of a breath (e.g., 100 ms) could also be misleading, especially in breaths with a rectangular waveform where the early rate of rise is very steep but then reaches a plateau. Measurements of peak values can also be misleading because of the brief, sharp transients present in REM sleep that may not be representative of an entire breath. In the present study we have attempted to avoid these problems by using VT (eupnea and postocclusion), <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Ptr (occlusion), and <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di, which make no assumptions about the shape or duration of the waveform.
Fig. 1. Polygraph record of a typical occlusion trial in rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. Note irregular slopes of tracheal pressure (Ptr) and moving time average of diaphragm EMG (MTA Di EMG). V, airflow; au, arbitrary units.
[View Larger Version of this Image (12K GIF file)]

Protocol. Our protocol is illustrated in Fig. 2. Once a stable sleep state had been achieved (NREM or REM), a 60-s eupneic control period was followed by tracheal occlusion, which averaged 16.3 ± 1.4 (range 11.8-21.1) s; the occlusion was released before EEG arousal. Ventilation, Ptr, diaphragm EMG, and EEG/electrooculogram were recorded continuously throughout each trial, such that 60 s of eupneic control, all occluded breathing efforts, and >= 60 s of postocclusive breathing were obtained. We report only on trials in which sleep state (NREM or REM) was stable during and after the occlusion.

Fig. 2. Polygraph records of an occlusion trial in non-REM (NREM, A) and REM (B) sleep in same dog. Note crescendo of increasingly negative Ptr and increasing crural diaphragm EMG (Cr Di EMG) in NREM followed, on release of occlusion, by 2 large breaths and beginning of a central apneic period. Occlusion in REM sleep produced inconsistent increases in negative Ptr and diaphragm EMG. Note also continued REMs throughout occlusion trial. VT, tidal volume.
[View Larger Versions of these Images (26 + 26K GIF file)]

Analysis and statistics. Regression slopes of <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Ptr (during airway occlusion) or VT (during eupnea and after occlusion) as a function of <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di, which we have termed "input-output" plots, were compared across NREM and REM sleep only between zero <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di and the lowest maximum <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di for each of the three conditions (eupnea, occlusion, and postocclusion) in a given dog for NREM or REM sleep. We did this because we thought we could legitimately compare slopes only over comparable ranges of data, where the data from both sleep states tended to show linear relationships.

Differences between regression slopes were determined by means of analysis of covariance (SYSTAT). Differences in slopes were considered significant if P <=  0.05. Differences between grouped data were determined by independent t-tests (SYSTAT) and were considered significant if P <=  0.05.


RESULTS

Time course. There were 88 successful occlusion trials (i.e., without change in sleep state) in the three dogs: 59 in NREM sleep and 29 in REM sleep. The mean eupneic values for each dog for breath timing and for diaphragm EMG in NREM and REM sleep are shown in Table 1. In all dogs relative to eupnea in NREM sleep, eupneic ventilation during REM sleep was increased due to increased breathing frequency, which more than compensated for the trend toward slight decreases in VT. The <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di was unchanged in two dogs and significantly decreased in the third.

Table  1.   Ventilatory data during eupnea, occlusion, and postocclusion periods
Dog 1 
Dog 2 
Dog 3 
NREM REM NREM REM NREM REM

Eupnea
n 352 225 152 129 172 110
 <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di EMG, AU 90.2 ± 0.9  68.8 ± 2.7* 120.9 ± 2.8  107 ± 6.1  105.7 ± 3.3  110 ± 6.1 
TE, s 3.2 ± 0.04  1.80 ± 0.08* 4.19 ± 0.08  2.79 ± 0.12* 3.45 ± 0.14  3.07 ± 0.17 
TI, s 1.58 ± 0.31  1.23 ± 0.03* 1.9 ± 0.02  1.50 ± 0.04* 1.35 ± 0.03  1.30 ± 0.04 
f, breaths/min 13.1 ± 0.2  27.3 ± 1.3  10.1 ± 0.1  16.7 ± 0.7* 14.8 ± 0.3  17.3 ± 1.1*
 VI, l/min 3.79 ± 0.07  5.58 ± 0.19* 3.84 ± 0.06  4.96 ± 0.19* 3.67 ± 0.07  4.33 ± 0.18 
VT, liter 0.32 ± 0.003  0.24 ± 0.006* 0.38 ± 0.004  0.32 ± 0.01* 0.27 ± 0.01  0.29 ± 0.01 
Occlusion
n  53  37  47  50  54  33
 <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di EMG, AU 240.3 ± 16.4  152.9 ± 17.3* 287.9 ± 16.9  248.5 ± 17.1  297 ± 16.9  190.9 ± 22.2*
TE, s 2.54 ± 0.13  1.17 ± 0.14* 3.78 ± 0.14  2.49 ± 0.16* 2.09 ± 0.14  2.15 ± 0.3 
TI, s 2.95 ± 0.08  2.33 ± 0.13* 1.85 ± 0.04  1.72 ± 0.06  2.3 ± 0.08  2.42 ± 0.12 
f, breaths/min 11.4 ± 0.4  19 ± 1.1* 11.1 ± 0.4  16 ± 0.9* 15.1 ± 0.6  15.1 ± 1 
 <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Ptr, AU 6.8 ± 0.3  6.3 ± 0.6  11.8 ± 0.7  9.9 ± 0.6* 8.4 ± 0.4  7.8 ± 0.6 
Postocclusion
n  34  22  32  20  22  12
 <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di EMG, AU 233.7 ± 15.9  230.4 ± 24.5  322.2 ± 31.3  341.8 ± 35.6  222.3 ± 18.7  203.2 ± 24.8 
TE, s 3.52 ± 0.67  2.03 ± 0.33  3.16 ± 0.25  3.2 ± 0.31  2.57 ± 0.68  2.60 ± 0.29 
TI, s 1.34 ± 0.04  1.35 ± 0.06  1.73 ± 0.06  1.78 ± 0.08  1.25 ± 0.08  1.35 ± 0.08 
f, breaths/min 16.5 ± 1.1  20.1 ± 1.3* 13.1 ± 0.6  13.1 ± 0.8  20.3 ± 1.6  16.0 ± 1.1 
 VI, l/min 9.08 ± 0.9  10.6 ± 1.23  10.49 ± 0.72  8.7 ± 0.76  9.51 ± 0.61  7.26 ± 0.56*
VT, liter 0.62 ± 0.02  0.54 ± 0.03* 0.81 ± 0.05  0.67 ± 0.04* 0.5 ± 0.03  0.46 ± 0.03

Values are means ± SE; n, no. of observations. REM, rapid-eye-movement sleep; NREM, non-REM sleep; int Di EMG, area of integrated moving-time-averaged diaphragm EMG; AU, arbitrary units; TE and TI, expiratory and inspiratory time; f, breathing frequency; VI, minute ventilation; VT, tidal volume; <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Ptr, integrated inspiratory tracheal pressure. * Significantly different from NREM, P <=  0.05.

The duration of airway occlusion was similar between sleep states, averaging 15.4 ± 1.3 s in NREM sleep and 17.2 ± 2.8 s in REM sleep (P = not significant). End-tidal gas measurements were not meaningful in the postocclusion period because the dogs invariably inspired first, thus diluting the subsequent end-tidal CO2 measurement. However, in a previous study (5) we mimicked 20 s of obstructive apnea in anesthetized dogs and rapidly (every 3 s) sampled arterial blood gas throughout the obstruction and postobstruction period. We observed that the mean PaCO2 increased 5.5 ± 0.5 Torr and the mean arterial PO2 (PaO2) decreased 27.8 ± 3.1 Torr. The time course and variability of response of VT, <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Ptr, and <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di are shown in Fig. 3 and Table 1. During airway occlusion in NREM sleep, <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di and <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Ptr typically increased progressively with each inspiratory effort throughout the occlusion period. In contrast, during REM sleep, <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di and <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Ptr during the occlusion period did not consistently increase in a progressive manner, and their magnitudes tended to be smaller at the termination of occlusion in REM than in NREM sleep.

Fig. 3. Time course of response to airway occlusion trials in all dogs during NREM (A) and REM sleep (B). Of 60-s eupneic control period, 20 s are shown. All efforts during occlusion are shown; time 0, 1st occluded breath. First 2 breaths after release of occlusion are shown; time 0, 1st postocclusion breath. In NREM sleep, note progressive increase in integrated Ptr (<LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Ptr) and integrated diaphragm EMG activity <FENCE><LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM></FENCE>Di) over time of occlusion. Also note VT and <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di achieved after occlusion. REM sleep shows more variable eupneic breaths, a reduced and disorganized response of <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Ptr and <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di during occlusion, and generally smaller VT and <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di after occlusion. Linear regression of <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Ptr and <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di as a function of time during occlusion was positive and significant in all dogs in NREM and REM sleep.
[View Larger Versions of these Images (34 + 30K GIF file)]

After release of airway occlusion in NREM sleep, ventilatory overshoots occurred consistently, inasmuch as VT and <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di were greater than control in most trials. In REM sleep the ventilatory overshoots and increase in <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di after release of occlusion were much less consistent and smaller in magnitude.

Relationship of TI and <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di in NREM vs. REM sleep. Figure 4 shows the magnitude of <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di as a function of TI for eupnea, airway occlusion, and postocclusion in NREM and REM sleep. There is considerable overlap of TI values between NREM and REM sleep. <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di tended to decrease as a linear function of decreasing TI during eupnea. Occlusion and postocclusion relationships of <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di and TI could not easily be described with simple functions, although here too <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di always tended to decrease as TI shortened. During eupnea in REM sleep all dogs had a number of breaths with TI values <1 s, whereas in NREM TI values <1 s were unusual, and these few were in one dog. Even in this range, <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di continued to decrease as TI became shorter.
Fig. 4. <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di as a function of inspiratory time (TI) during eupneic breathing in REM (A) and NREM sleep (B). All trials in all dogs are shown. Note considerable overlap of TI values between NREM and REM sleep and prevalence of breaths in REM sleep that have TI values <1 s. Despite these short TI values, <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di continued to falll as TI decreased. Mean <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di for each dog for all breaths with TI between 1 and 2 s (a range common to all conditions) combined revealed no significant differences between NREM and REM sleep for eupnea (108 ± 21 vs. 102 ± 18), occlusion (161 ± 84 vs. 205 ± 73), or postocclusion (346 ± 165 vs. 300 ± 68) breathing.
[View Larger Version of this Image (26K GIF file)]

Neural input-mechanical output relationships, NREM vs. REM sleep. The relationship of neural input (<LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di) to mechanical output (VT) during eupnea is illustrated in Fig. 5, and mean values are listed in Table 2. In all cases the slopes of the relationship between VT and <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di were significantly different from zero. Also in two dogs there was a small but significant increase in slope in REM vs. NREM sleep, and in the third dog there was a small but significant decrease in slope. On average, at a representative <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di of 100 units, there was an ~6% decrease in VT during REM vs. NREM sleep.
Fig. 5. Input-output relationships during eupnea in NREM and REM sleep. A and B: scatter plots of all breaths during NREM and REM sleep, respectively, in all dogs. Note generally similar ranges of both variables whatever sleep state, although REM sleep manifests greater variability and includes some extremely shortened TI values. C: regression lines for all 3 dogs in NREM (solid lines) and REM sleep (dashed lines). Regression lines were generated only from data between zero <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di and lowest maximum <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di value in NREM or REM sleep.
[View Larger Version of this Image (10K GIF file)]

Table  2.   NREM vs. REM regression slopes
Eupnea (VT = m · int Di + b)
Occlusion (int Ptr = m · int Di + b)
Postocclusion (VT = m · int Di + b)
m b r2 n m b r2 n m b r2 n

Dog 1 
  NREM 0.00161dagger 0.18 0.65 352 0.0662dagger 4.45 0.78 53 0.00126dagger 0.32 0.82 34
  REM 0.00195*, dagger 0.11 0.72 224 0.0682dagger 3.82 0.67 37 0.00087*, dagger 0.34 0.72 22
Dog 2 
  NREM 0.00101dagger 0.259 0.41 152 0.070dagger 1.58 0.92 47 0.00132dagger 0.386 0.82 32
  REM 0.00134*, dagger 0.176 0.54 125 0.068dagger 0.493 0.88 50 0.0007*, dagger 0.43 0.37 20
Dog 3 
  NREM 0.00173dagger 0.09 0.66 172 0.059dagger 2.21 0.66 54 0.00151dagger 0.168 0.89 26
  REM 0.00132*, dagger 0.15 0.45 110 0.0345*, dagger 11.84 0.31 33 0.0006*, dagger 0.229 0.48 14

n, No. of observations; m, slope; b, intercept. * Significantly different from NREM, P <=  0.05.  dagger Significantly different from zero, P <=  0.05.

The neural input-mechanical output relationships during occlusion and after occlusion are illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, and mean slope data are presented in Table 2. The slope of <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di vs. <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Ptr (occlusion) or VT (postocclusion) was significantly greater than zero in all conditions in all dogs. During airway occlusion the slopes of the neural input-mechanical output relationships in REM were equal to or slightly less than those in NREM sleep. On average, at a representative value for <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di of 400 units, <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Ptr was only ~2% less in REM than in NREM sleep. In contrast, after airway occlusion the slopes of the neural input-mechanical output relationships in REM sleep were significantly less than those observed in NREM sleep. Thus, on average, for an <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di of 400 units the VT would be ~26% smaller in REM than in NREM sleep.
Fig. 6. Input-output relationships during occlusion in NREM and REM sleep. Conventions are similar to Fig. 5. Note overlap of EMG and mechanical output variables in NREM sleep compared with REM sleep, but largest magnitudes were observed during NREM sleep. Over a common range of <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di, <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Ptr responses in REM sleep are similar to or less than those during NREM sleep.
[View Larger Version of this Image (9K GIF file)]


Fig. 7. Input-output relationships during postocclusion breathing in NREM and REM sleep. Conventions are similar to Figs. 5 and 6. Note overlap of EMG and mechanical output variables in NREM compared with REM sleep, but largest magnitudes were observed during NREM sleep. Over a common range of <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di, responses in REM sleep are similar to or less than those during NREM sleep.
[View Larger Version of this Image (8K GIF file)]

Fractionations of EMG and mechanical outputs in REM sleep. Examples of diaphragm EMGs with and without fractionations are shown in Fig. 8. Fractionations longer than ~50 ms were detected in 41% of the occluded breaths. Some of the fractionated breaths had more than one fractionation; thus, on average, there were 1.6 fractionations per fractionated breath during airway occlusion. Sixty-three percent of the fractionations were associated with positive-going spikes in Ptr, i.e., an interruption in the ramp of negative-going Ptr. This mechanical effect of EMG fractionation was usually associated with the longer (more than ~100-ms) fractionations.

Fig. 8. A: raw diaphragm EMGs and Ptr during occlusion in same dog in NREM sleep, REM sleep with no measurable fractionations, REM sleep with a fractionation but no measurable Ptr change, and REM sleep with measurable fractionations in EMG and corresponding positive-going transients in Ptr. Fractionations may be even more prevalent than data from present study might suggest. B: prominent fractionations during eupnea in REM sleep in an identically prepared dog currently in use in other studies in our laboratory for which extensive eupneic data are available during NREM and REM sleep. Note prominent diaphragm EMG fractionations during phasic REM sleep and clear effects on flow, VT, and Ptr.
[View Larger Versions of these Images (16 + 28K GIF file)]


DISCUSSION

In summary, we have found that 1) for a given TI the <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di was similar or reduced in REM sleep relative to NREM sleep; 2) for a given activation of the diaphragm EMG in response to airway occlusion and the hyperpnea following occlusion, the mechanical output (flow or pressure) is similar or slightly reduced in REM vs. NREM sleep; in eupnea the results are equivocal; 3) for comparable durations of airway occlusion the <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di and <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Ptr tended to be smaller and more erratic in REM than in NREM sleep; and 4) fractionations of the diaphragm EMG during airway occlusion in REM sleep occurred in ~40% of breathing efforts and in some instances may have contributed to the diminished and erratic ventilatory responses observed. Thus reduced mechanical output during and after airway occlusion in REM sleep in terms of flow rate, VT, and/or pressure generation appears to be attributable largely to reduced neural activity of the diaphragm, which in turn is likely attributable to REM effects, causing reduced chemosensitivity at the chemoreceptor level or, more likely, at the level of central integration.

Critique of assumptions. Interpretation of input-output relationships during and after airway occlusion relies on the assumption that similar occlusion times would produce similar changes in PaCO2 and PaO2 (and saturation) in REM and NREM sleep. There are several potential limitations to this assumption. 1) The initial PaCO2 and PaO2 will of course affect the blood-gas status that is ultimately achieved during occlusion. The initial end-tidal CO2 values were not different between NREM and REM sleep, so this was probably not a factor in this study. 2) We showed previously (5; see RESULTS) that significant asphyxic stimuli build up over the occlusion period in the anesthetized dog. The degree of asphyxia should be at least as great in dogs that are merely sleeping. 3) Metabolic rate may not be equal between NREM and REM sleep. We have assumed that there are minimal differences in metabolic rate between REM and NREM sleep, inasmuch as metabolic rate was not measured in this study. However, we are aware of three studies in the human literature that suggest no change in metabolic rate between NREM and REM sleep or an increase in REM of <5%, so this assumption seems to be a reasonable one (3, 22, 26). 4) Functional residual capacity (FRC) may decrease in REM relative to NREM sleep. We did not measure FRC in this study, but the atonia of REM probably leads to a small decrease in FRC (12, 18). This in turn would tend to cause a more rapid development of asphyxic stimuli than during NREM sleep. So there is the potential for slightly higher chemoreceptor stimuli for a given length of occlusion in REM than in NREM sleep. We believe that these effects are likely to be small. Moreover, our approach of looking at the entire response breath by breath by comparing neural input with mechanical output throughout airway occlusion should compensate for small discrepancies in stimulus levels unless one state or the other had quite alinear response characteristics, which does not seem to be the case.

REM effects on diaphragm EMG and breath timing. Orem et al. (19-21) showed in unanesthetized, chronically instrumented cats that the rate of rise of activity of medullary augmenting inspiratory cells, the rate of rise of diaphragm EMG, and the mean EMG were markedly increased during eupneic breathing in REM sleep. In their studies, at any given TI, virtually all breaths showed a greater rate of rise of diaphragm EMG during REM than during NREM sleep. At the very short TI values that are commonly observed in REM sleep, the rate of rise of diaphragm EMG was even greater. Despite these increases in neural inputs, the generation of negative Ptr during inspiration was reduced. Given these observations, Orem and colleagues proposed that atonia of the chest wall must have occurred in REM sleep, which in turn produced much less efficient coupling of EMG activity to mechanical output. This supports Bryan's (4) suggestion that, in the human infant at least, the increased rate of rise of diaphragm EMG is a means of compensating for this inefficient coupling. This is a logical suggestion, inasmuch as it is well known that although the diaphragm is largely spared, activation of respiratory chest wall muscles is reduced or absent during REM sleep (9, 24), which could contribute to increased chest wall distortion.

Our findings in the dog using <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di would appear to disagree with the findings of Orem et al. (19-21) in cats, inasmuch as we found no change or a decrease in <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di during eupneic breathing in phasic REM vs. NREM sleep in the dog (Table 1). Moreover, when these data were normalized by plotting <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di as a function of TI, we found no difference in the <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di between eupneic breaths taken in REM and NREM sleep. Very short TI values (<1 s) were present only in REM sleep, but the <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di in REM sleep continued to decrease as TI became shorter (Fig. 4). Thus our data in the sleeping dog do not support the idea of a compensatory increase in ventilatory drive during eupnea in REM sleep.

There are several possible explanations for this apparent disagreement between studies. First, our observations were confined to phasic REM sleep, i.e., periods with consistently high eye movement densities, whereas Orem and colleagues (19-21) used data from tonic and phasic REM sleep. At least one study in unanesthetized cats (16) showed that the rate of rise of diaphragm EMG is more variable in phasic than in tonic REM sleep, and the range of values not only overlaps but also extends above and below values observed in tonic REM sleep. However, we believe that the large number of observations obtained in the present study precludes a systematic error due to variability. Second, we do not believe that state-related changes in posture were a factor, because our dogs remained in a constant posture throughout our observations in REM and NREM sleep and our diaphragm EMGs did not appear to be contaminated by nondiaphragm EMGs. Third, species differences (cats vs. dogs) may be significant in neural control of respiratory muscles and/or chest wall compliance. However, in contrast to Orem and colleagues (19-21), at least two studies in unanesthetized cats (16, 25) found no consistent effect of REM sleep on the rate of rise of diaphragm EMG activity during eupnea. Without a consensus in the cat, it is clear that more work in the cat model is required before this issue can be resolved.

REM effects on neural input-mechanical output relationships during chemoreceptor-driven breathing. The effects of phasic REM sleep on mechanical output and on diaphragm EMG and their relationship were most striking in response to increasing chemostimulation, as occurred during and immediately after airway occlusion. <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Ptr (during occlusion) and VT (after occlusion) were markedly reduced and highly variable in REM vs. NREM sleep. Furthermore, inasmuch as chemoreceptor stimuli increased with time during the occlusion, peak Ptr often failed to decrease continuously breath by breath in REM sleep, unlike the situation in NREM sleep, where each succeeding breath is typically more negative than the preceding breath. Most importantly, these effects of phasic REM sleep on mechanical output were also present in the <LIM><OP>∫</OP></LIM>Di, inasmuch as the relationships of mechanical output to EMG of the diaphragm were significant and equal or slightly reduced in REM vs. NREM sleep. Accordingly, we attribute these effects of REM sleep on the reduced amplitude and increased variability of Ptr during airway occlusion and of inspiratory flow rate and VT after release of occlusion largely to REM sleep effects on neural respiratory motor output via decreased chemosensitivity.

REM effects on chest wall stability during chemostimulated breathing appear to play little or no modulatory role in ventilatory responses during airway occlusion in the absence of volume changes. However, chest wall distortion secondary to the muscle atonia of REM sleep appeared to reduce significantly the ventilatory responses in the postocclusion period (Fig. 7, Table 2). It is not clear why this reduction was observed only in the postocclusion period and not during occlusion or in eupnea. We speculate that the contribution of REM sleep-induced atonia and associated chest wall distortion is sufficiently small in this species (see below) that mechanical effects can be detected only where ventilatory drive, airflow, and VT values are high, such as in the postocclusion period.

Our data obtained during and after airway occlusion are consistent with the blunted and erratic responses of ventilatory output to experimentally induced hypoxia and hypercapnia previously reported in REM sleep in humans, cats, and dogs (7, 25, 27). On the basis of our present data in the dog, we would attribute these blunted ventilatory responses to chemostimulation to a reduced respiratory neural output. Contrary to the increased rate of rise of medullary inspiratory neurons reported during eupnea in REM sleep in the cat (see above), would medullary inspiratory neuronal activity reflect what we observed in the dog's diaphragm EMG and show markedly blunted responses relative to those in NREM sleep? We would predict that this would be the case, but clearly direct measurement of medullary neuronal activity during chemostimulation is needed in REM sleep.

Why is diaphragm EMG reduced and more variable in REM sleep? We believe that there are four possible explanations for decreased diaphragm EMG activity in response to chemostimulation in REM sleep.

First, brief interruptions or fractionations of the ramp of diaphragm EMG accounted for at least some of the decreased responsiveness to chemostimulation during airway occlusion (Fig. 8). In cats, Veasey et al. (28) observed that fractionations were present in 13-27% of eupneic breaths, and we observed EMG fractionations in 41% of occluded breaths. We also observed that many of the longer diaphragm EMG fractionations actually resulted in a measurable effect on Ptr, flow rate, or VT developed during inspiration. That not all the EMG fractionations had obvious mechanical consequences may not be surprising, inasmuch as many EMG fractionations were very brief; furthermore, Hendricks and Kline (11) showed considerable regional within-breath heterogeneity of fractionations in the costal diaphragm of cats. Thus many EMG fractionations may occur in only a small region of the diaphragm and/or may be too brief to have a significant mechanical effect.

Second, the generally faster and more variable frequency of inspiratory efforts during chemostimulation in phasic REM sleep suggests that many inspirations are probably terminated early. This interruption of the diaphragmatic EMG activity during phasic REM events could account for the reduced amplitude of EMG activity.

Third, REM sleep or phasic REM events may actually interfere with true chemosensitivity at the level of the chemoreceptor(s) and/or at the level of central integration of chemoreceptor sensory inputs. At our level of measurement of stimulus response, we cannot distinguish between these proposed effects. Indeed, even the effects of diaphragm EMG fractionations or TI truncation on diaphragm EMG (see above) may be interpreted as an apparent blunting of the "chemoresponse." The only advance our findings have made in understanding the nature of this REM-induced blunted response of ventilatory output and pressure development to the asphyxia of airway occlusion is to show that it occurs at the level of the neural activation of the diaphragm. Other respiratory mechanoreceptor reflex responses from lung stretch and from airway stimulation have also been shown to be blunted in phasic REM sleep (10, 15, 17, 27, 30). However, we think it unlikely that these reflexes are involved in the reduced ventilatory responses in REM sleep, because 1) they tend to be inhibitory, and blunting an inhibitory reflex should, if anything, enhance ventilation, and 2) the increase of ventilatory efforts over the duration of occlusion strongly suggests to us a buildup of chemical stimuli (5).

Fourth, the increase in cerebral blood flow during REM sleep demonstrated by Parisi et al. (23) in the sleeping goat would probably have reduced medullary PCO2. This in turn would have reduced the stimulus at the level of the medullary chemoreceptors and may have caused an apparent reduction in chemosensitivity in REM sleep.

Implications of decreased chemoresponsiveness to breathing during REM sleep. The depressed chemoresponsiveness of REM sleep may have some bearing on breathing stability in this state. Central apneas in NREM sleep are commonly caused by ventilatory overshoots resulting from many types of stimuli, including transient periods of airway obstruction (2, 5, 14). In the human, these types of central apnea are thought to be primarily determined by transient hypocapnia (2, 6, 14), whereas in the dog, hypocapnia and vagally mediated lung stretch (prompted by VT overshoots) cause ensuing central apneas (5, 29). The reduced chemoresponsiveness to the asphyxia of airway occlusion means that the subsequent overshoot of ventilation and especially VT are blunted in phasic REM sleep, and this lessens the probability of ensuing central apnea or hypopnea (29). The reduced diaphragmatic EMG and pressure responses during occlusion in REM sleep may also mean that increasing sensory input from the chest wall leading to cortical arousal (8) will be reduced and less dependent on apnea duration, perhaps contributing to prolongation of occlusive apneas in REM.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The contributions of Dr. Gordon S. Mitchell are gratefully acknowledged.


FOOTNOTES

   This study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health. P. R. Eastwood was the recipient of National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia Fellowship 967312.

Address for reprint requests: C. A. Smith, Dept. of Preventive Medicine, 504 N. Walnut St., Madison, WI 53705-2368.

Received 3 January 1997; accepted in final form 29 July 1997.


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0161-7567/97 $5.00 Copyright © 1997 the American Physiological Society



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