Distribution and connections of inspiratory premotor neurons in the brainstem of the pigeon (Columba livia)

We have recorded extracellular, inspiratory-related (IR) unit activity in the medulla at locations corresponding to those of neurons retrogradely labeled by injections of retrograde tracers in the lower brachial and upper thoracic spinal cord, injections that covered cell bodies and dendrites of motoneurons innervating inspiratory muscles. Bulbospinal neurons were distributed throughout the dorsomedial and ventrolateral medulla, from the spinomedullary junction through about 0.8 mm rostral to the obex. Almost all of the 104 IR units recorded were located in corresponding parts of the ventrolateral medulla, rostral to nucleus retroambigualis, where expiratory related units are found. Injections of biotinylated dextran amine at the recording sites labeled projections both to the spinal cord and to the brainstem. In the lower brachial and upper thoracic spinal cord, bulbospinal axons traveled predominantly in the contralateral dorsolateral funiculus and terminated in close relation to the dendrites of inspiratory motoneurons retrogradely labeled with cholera toxin B-chain. In the brainstem, there were predominantly ipsilateral projections to the nucleus retroambigualis, tracheosyringeal motor nucleus (XIIts), ventrolateral nucleus of the rostral medulla, infraolivary superior nucleus, ventrolateral parabrachial nucleus, and dorsomedial nucleus of the intercollicular complex. In all these nuclei, except XIIts, retrogradely labeled neurons were also found, indicating reciprocity of the connections. These results suggest the possibility of monosynaptic connections between inspiratory premotor neurons and inspiratory motoneurons, which, together with connections of IR neurons with other brainstem respiratory-vocal nuclei, seem likely to mediate the close coordination that exists in birds between the vocal and respiratory systems. The distribution of IR neurons in birds is similar to that of the rostral ventral respiratory group (rVRG) in mammals.