Figure 1. Basal respiration and chemoresponsive instability in Kcna1^−/− mice.

A) Tidal volume (V_T) is increased in SD90 Kcna1^−/− mice (F (2,14) = 6.9). (B) As Kcna1^−/− mice age respiratory drive (V_T/T_i: F (2,14) = 8.9) and (C) PIF (F (2,14) = 3.5) are elevated. Significance was determined by two way ANOVA with Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test, n = 5-7. (D) Pulse oximetry indicates that arterial oxygen saturation (SaO₂) is lower in SD55 Kcna1^−/− mice compared to age matched Kcna1^+/+ mice (data expressed as mean per animal ± SEM, n = 4 mice). (E) Plotting all SaO₂ measurements indicates oxygen desaturation during different behavioral states by ~4% and illustrates frequent excursions into hypoxia when SaO₂ < 90%. (F) Quantification of the percentage of measurements with SaO₂ < 90%, unpaired Mann-Whitney test; n = 8, ^*p < 0.05, ^**p < 0.01, ^*** p < 0.001.