NEUROMUSCULAR CONTROL OF THE PHARYNGEAL AIRWAY

描述（改编自申请人摘要）：长期 这项建议的目的是测试假设，肌肉， 舌（颏舌肌和舌下肌/茎突舌肌）的伸出和缩回 肌肉）在吸气期间被共同激活，并且 共同收缩显著有助于维持咽部 气道通畅 概念模型是， 吸气使舌头变硬，因为拮抗肌对抗舌头 另一个，从而最小化舌头的向后位移， 随后咽部闭塞。 重要的新数据显示 牵开肌和牵开肌的牵开相关共同激活 动物模型，以及最近的证据表明，改善吸气 在患有阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停的人类受试者中具有共激活的气流， 为这一概念框架提供有力支持。 因此 以下特定目的旨在严格测试共激活 使用麻醉大鼠模型的假设：目的1是证明， 舌头的伸舌肌和缩舌肌在 他们对呼吸相关的变化有类似的反应， 刺激。 目的2是显示外部舌的共同激活 肌肉将改善咽气道力学比独立的 或牵开肌的激活。 目标3是 证明舌头肌肉的初始操作长度将 影响：a）呼吸相关的舌头运动的幅度，B） 舌肌调节咽气道流动力学的能力， （3）舌肌的疲劳性。 这些实验将奠定 艾滋病患者新的和改进的治疗战略基金会 阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停或其他条件引起的， 舌头运动系统的故障

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from the applicant's abstract): The long-term objective of this proposal is to test the hypothesis that the muscles that protrude and retract the tongue (genioglossus and hypoglossus/styloglossus muscles, respectively) are co-activated during inspiration, and that co-contraction contributes significantly to the maintenance of pharyngeal airway patency. The conceptual model is that co-contraction during inspiration stiffens the tongue as the antagonist muscles work against one another, thereby minimizing backward displacement of the tongue and subsequent occlusion of the pharynx. Significant new data showing respiratory-related co-activation of the protrudor and retractor muscles in animal models, as well as recent evidence showing improved inspiratory airflow with co-activation in human subjects with obstructive sleep apnea, provide strong support for this conceptual framework. Accordingly, the following Specific Aims are designed to rigorously test the co-activation hypothesis using an anesthetized rat model: Aim 1 is to demonstrate that the protrudor and retractor muscles of the tongue are co-activated during breathing and that they respond similarly to changes in respiratory related stimuli. Aim 2 is to show that co-activation of the extrinsic tongue muscles will improve pharyngeal airway mechanics more than the independent activation of either the protrudor or retractor muscles. Aim 3 is to demonstrate that the initial operating length of the tongue muscles will influence: a) the magnitude of respiratory related tongue movements, b) the ability of the tongue muscles to modulate pharyngeal airway flow mechanics, c) the fatigability of the tongue muscles. These experiments will lay the foundation for new and improved treatment strategies for persons with obstructive sleep apnea or with other conditions that are caused by malfunction of the tongue motor system.