Effects of pentobarbital on upper airway patency during sleep

We hypothesised that pentobarbital would improve upper airway mechanics based on an increase in latency to arousal and amplitude of the phasic genioglossus electromyogram (EMG), and a decrease in the active upper airway critical closing pressure (Pcrit). 12 healthy subjects received pentobarbital (100 mg) or placebo in a double-blind, crossover protocol. During wakefulness, we measured the genioglossus reflex response to negative pressure pulses. During sleep, carbon dioxide was insufflated into the inspired air. Airway pressure was then decreased in a stepwise fashion until arousal from sleep. With basal breathing during sleep: flow rate was lower in volunteers given pentobarbital; end-tidal CO(2) concentration and upper airway resistance were greater; and Pcrit was unaffected (pentobarbital mean +/- SD -11.7 +/- 4.5 versus placebo -10.25 +/- 3.6 cmH(2)O; p<0.11). Pentobarbital increased the time to arousal (297 +/- 63s versus 232 +/- 67 s; p<0.05), at which time phasic genioglossus EMG was higher (6.2 +/- 4.8% maximal versus 3.1 +/- 3%; p<0.05) as were CO(2) levels. The increase in genioglossus EMG after CO(2) administration was greater after pentobarbital versus placebo. Pentobarbital did not affect the genioglossus negative-pressure reflex. Pentobarbital increases the time to arousal and stimulates genioglossus muscle activity, but it also increases upper airway resistance during sleep.