The area of the brain responsible for organophosphate (OP)-induced central apnea is
unknown. Automatic breathing is governed by circuits in the medulla and pons. Respiratory-
related neurons in the brainstem are concentrated in a few areas, including ventral regions
of the medulla, which contains a number of sites critical for respiratory rhythmogenesis,
including the pre-Bötzinger complex (preBötC). The preBötC contains cholinergic receptors,
making it a candidate site of action for the apnea-inducing effect of OP. We analyzed …