# CONTROL OF BREATHING IN RECOVERY FROM APNEA

> **NIH NIH R37** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 1994 · $262,907

## Abstract

The proposed studies concern physiologic mechanisms involved in
initiation and recovery from attacks of apnea, such as occur in a
variety of human diseases and disorders.  Emphasis is given to
maturation of the neuromuscular mechanisms that maintain patency of the
upper airway.  Attention is also directed to mechanisms involved in
spontaneous recovery from apnea produced by acute anoxia.  We plan to
investigate reflex activity in rabbits during central nervous system
depression produced by hypoxia.  Upper airway protective reflexes and
respiratory reflexes will be studied.  Studies in mice will evaluate the
ability to spontaneously recover form apnea and central nervous system
depression produced by acute hypoxia ("autoresuscitation").  Specially,
the affects of anesthesia and repeated anoxic exposure on respiratory
gasping activity and autoresuscitation will be examined. Mice that
develop an inability to autoresuscitate at the time of weaning will be
studied to see if characteristic patterns in respiratory or cardiac
activity predict death and if pretreatment with various agents restores
viability.  We will also see if increased upper airway resistance or
oral obstruction decreases ability to spontaneously recover form hypoxic
apnea.  Animals of different ages will be evaluated in these various
studies to determine maturational effects on response patterns.  In
human studies, we will investigate infants who habitually sleep with
their nose and mouth pressed into the bedding.  The prevalence of the
face-directly-down sleep position, mattress composition, and sleep state
will be studied.  Infants with tracheostomies will be evaluated to
determine the source of the cyclical pressure changes in the upper
airway that appear when it is closed to the atmosphere.  Such
oscillations are indicative of critical airway maintaining forces.
Therefore, electromyographic activity of different upper airway muscles
will be surveyed to see if changes in muscle activity correspond to the
oscillations.  We also plan to study the effect of maturation on this
airway stabilizing activity.  Normal term and preterm infants will be
studied to evaluate the precise timing and coordination of breathing,
sucking, and swallowing during bottle feeding.  In further studies, we
will evaluate maturation of this coordination.  Attention will be
focused on the inhibition of breathing by swallows and obstruction of
inspiratory efforts during swallows.  In preterm and term infants who
have episodes of apnea, and/or cyanosis, during feeding, we will conduct
similar studies to define the pathophysiology of the apnea and its
resolution with maturation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 2196770
- **Project number:** 4R37HD010993-18
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** L6NFUM28LQM5
- **Principal Investigator:** BRADLEY T THACH
- **Activity code:** R37 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1994
- **Award amount:** $262,907
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 1977-09-30 → 1999-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/2196770

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 2196770, CONTROL OF BREATHING IN RECOVERY FROM APNEA (4R37HD010993-18). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/2196770. Licensed CC0.

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