Central Mechanism of Hypoxic Respiratory Depression

The responses of respiration to hypoxia is diphase,that is respiratory excitatory at first,then respiratory depression.The mechanism of hypoxic respiratory excitatory are reflective effects resulting from peripheral chemical sensors stimulated by decreased PaO2.but the pathogenesis of respiratory depression is not very clear.This article introduces the effect of high central nervous system,changes of cerebral blood flow after hypoxia,damage of hypoxia to neurons in the respiratory center,neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in hypoxic respiratory depression.