Effects of site-specific sustained photostimulation of inhibitory neurons within the Bötzinger complex <i>in situ</i>.

<p>(<b>A</b> and <b>B</b>) Examples of the effects of sustained stimulation (473 nm, 20 Hz, 20 ms pulses) of low (2.0 mW pulse amplitude in A) and higher intensity (3.0 mW in B). Representative traces of integrated phrenic nerve recordings (∫PN) are shown in the middle; the upper traces show the instantaneous respiratory frequency (dots) and its low pass filtered time course (time-based moving median in a 3 s window, solid black line), the lower traces indicate the duration and amplitude of the pulsed sustained laser stimulation. (<b>C</b>). Summary data (n = 12, mean ± SEM, ** p<0.01) show that bilateral BötC laser application significantly reduced respiratory frequency in a laser power-dependent manner with a complete cessation of the inspiratory rhythm at 3.0 mW.