<Original Paper> Effects of Arterial Oxygen Saturation on Gag Reflex in Humans

概要

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"The gag reflex is known to be induced by oro-pharyngeal stimulation. Its physiological role is presumably to expel a bolus interrupting the upper airway. The present study used 27 healthy subjects to investigate how changes in arterial oxygen saturation (SpO_2) influences the gag reflex. The gag reflex was elicited by compression of the lingual root in 25 subjects, however, two subjects did not respond. After recording the gag reflex under normal ventilation (control), eight subjects inhaled air containing 30% oxygen for three minutes. Compression of the lingual root was started five seconds after the inhalation. Seventeen subjects were asked to hold their breaths for 30 seconds and the gag reflex was induced five seconds later. SpO_2 was significantly increased in those inhaling 30% oxygen and was significantly decreased in those who held their breath. Inhalation of 30% oxygen caused prolonged latency of the gag reflex and attenuation of integral abdominal muscle activity corresponding to the gag reflex. In contrast, latency of the gag reflex was shortened and integral abdominal muscle activity was augmented during decrease of SpO_2. These results suggested that induction of the gag reflex was modified by input from chemoreceptive afferents integrated in the medulla oblongata."
川崎医療福祉大学の論文