Variables measured after mechanical ventilation with conventional ventilation (controls) or after high stretch ventilation.

Crsi/BW: static compliance of the respiratory system measured on inflation and indexed to the body weight. HV25-sham: injurious ventilation and saline injection. HV25-stim: injurious ventilation associated with bilateral electro-stimulation of the cervical vagus nerves. HV25-stim/MLA: injurious ventilation associated with bilateral electro-stimulation of the cervical vagus nerves and pre-treatment with alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor blocking agent MLA. HV25-PNU : injurious ventilation associated with pre-treatment with alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist PNU. *, ** and ***: respectively p<0.05, <0.01 and <0.001 versus HV25-sham.