Infant mammalian feeding consists of rhythmic suck cycles and reflexive pharyngeal swallows. Although we know how oropharyngeal sensation influences the initiation and frequency of suck and swallow cycles, the role of palatal sensation is unknown. We implanted EMG electrodes into the mylohyoid muscle, a muscle active during suckling, and the thyrohyoid muscle, a muscle active during swallowing, in eight infant pigs. Pigs were then bottle-fed while lateral videofluoroscopy was simultaneously recorded from the electrodes. Two treatments were administered prior to feeding and compared with control feedings: 1) palatal anesthesia (0.5% bupivacaine hydrochloride), and 2) palatal saline. Using the timing of mylohyoid muscle and thyrohyoid muscle activity, we tested for differences between treatment and control feedings for swallowing frequency and suck cycle duration. Following palatal anesthesia, four pigs could not suck and exhibited excessive jaw movement. We categorized the four pigs that could suck after palatal anesthesia as group A, and those who could not as group B. Group A had no significant change in suck cycle duration and a higher swallowing frequency after palatal saline ( P = 0.021). Group B had significantly longer suck cycles after palatal anesthesia ( P < 0.001) and a slower swallowing frequency ( P < 0.001). Swallowing frequency may be a way to predict group membership, since it was different in control feedings between groups ( P < 0.001). The qualitative and bimodal group response to palatal anesthesia may reflect a developmental difference. This study demonstrates that palatal sensation is involved in the initiation and frequency of suck and swallow cycles in infant feeding.

Objective Abnormal kinematics during swallowing can result in aspiration which may become life threatening. We tested the role of palatal sensation in the motor control of pharyngeal swallow in infants. Study Design In eight infant pigs, we reduced palatal sensation using local anesthesia (PLA) and measured the impact on swallowing kinematics and airway protection. Methods The pigs drank milk containing barium while we simultaneously recorded videofluoroscopy and electromyography from fine wire bipolar electrodes in several hyolaryngeal muscles. We compared these results to control feedings and feedings following palatal saline injections (PSA). Results After PLA, four pigs had extreme jaw movements and abnormal tongue movement uncharacteristic of sucking. For this reason, we evaluated differences between these “Group B” pigs and the others that could suck normally after PLA, “Group A”. In the four Group A pigs, after PLA there was less hyoid elevation (p<0.001) but normal jaw and tongue movements. In Group B, in addition to greater jaw movement (p<0.001) there was more anterior and superior tongue movement (p<0.001) and a larger range of hyoid movement (p<0.001) Conclusion The airway was protected in all of the pigs, indicating that these changes allowed successful adaptation to the reduction in palatal sensation. However, the oral and pharyngeal phases of the swallow were functionally linked and trigeminal sensation influenced the motor control of the pharyngeal swallow.