Glutamatergic modulation of the cardiorespiratory effects of hypoxia

The influence of a glutamate cerebral level on cardiorespiratory effects of hypoxic stimulation had been performed in experiments on the anesthetized rats. Presentation of a gas mix containing 10% of O2 in N2 led to decrease in average arterial pressure, and increase in heart rate, and elevation both in breathing rate and in tidal volume. These effects disappeared after cerebroventicular microinjection of glutamate. Thus, it has been established that cerebral level of glutamate is a factor which can modulate ventilatory and cardiocirculatory chemoreflex.