Age and activity-related changes in the respiratory motor system

Abstract

The ability of the respiratory motor system to adapt to various functional demands is very important for maintaining human lifestyles. Age-related changes in the system have been studied in several animals. Furthermore, many kinds of models of altered use have been developed to examine activity-related changes in the system. In this review, the plasticity of the respiratory motor system, including spinal phrenic motoneurons and endplates on muscle fibers are discussed, mainly relating to inactivity and over-activity models in rat diaphragm muscle.