Role of serotonergic 5-HT1A receptors in phrenic long term facilitation elicited by acute intermittent hypoxia in rats

The aims were to investigate the role of 5-HT1A receptor activation in induction and preservation of phrenic long term facilitation (pLTF) at two different time points, before exposures to acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) and after pLTF was induced and to examine the effects of 5-HT1A receptors blockade by selective antagonist WAY- 100635 into the caudal raphe region on pLTF elicited by AIH. We found that 5-HT1A receptor activation plays a significant role in both induction and preservation of pLTF. Furthermore, activation of the 5-HT1A receptors at supraspinal level is important for induction of pLTF.