μ-Opioid receptor agonist injections into the presumed pre-Bötzinger complex and the surrounding region of awake goats do not alter eupneic breathing

Opioids are clinically important in the alleviation of pain. An undesirable side effect of opioids is depression of breathing. Data from isolated preparations suggest this effect is due to attenuation of discharge activity of neurons in the pre-Botzinger complex (preBotzC), a medullary area with respiratory rhythmogenic properties. The purpose of this study was to examine how [d-Ala(2),N-Me-Phe(4),Gly(5)-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO), a μ-opioid receptor agonist, affected breathing after injection into the presumed preBotzC of the adult awake goat. We hypothesized that DAMGO would cause breathing to decrease and become irregular when injected into the presumed preBotzC and the surrounding region of the conscious animal. We further hypothesized that ventilatory sensitivity to CO2 and hypoxia would be blunted after the injection of DAMGO. Microtubules were bilaterally implanted into the presumed preBotzC of 10 adult female goats. After recovery from the surgery, DAMGO (0.5–10 μl, 1 nM–10 μM) was injected into the presumed preBotzC during the awake state. DAMGO had no effect on pulmonary ventilation [inspiratory minute ventilation (Vi)], respiratory rhythm and pattern, the activation pattern of inspiratory and expiratory muscles, or arterial blood gases during eupneic breathing conditions ( P > 0.10). However, DAMGO attenuated ( P < 0.05) the evoked increase in breathing frequency when inspired CO2 was increased, and DAMGO attenuated the Vi response to reduction of inspired O2 to 10.8% ( P < 0.05). We conclude that our data do not provide support for the concept that in awake mammals opioid depression of breathing is due to a directed action of opioids on preBotzC neurons.