Respiratory rhythm generation during gasping depends on persistent sodium current

Nat Neurosci. 2006 Mar;9(3):311-3. doi: 10.1038/nn1650. Epub 2006 Feb 12.

Abstract

In severe hypoxia, homeostatic mechanisms maintain function of the brainstem respiratory network. We hypothesized that hypoxia involves a transition from neuronal mechanisms of normal breathing (eupnea) to a rudimentary pattern of inspiratory movements (gasping). We provide evidence for hypoxia-driven transformation within the central respiratory oscillator, in which gasping relies on persistent sodium current, whereas eupnea does not depend on this cellular mechanism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / drug effects
  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Biological Clocks / drug effects
  • Biological Clocks / physiology*
  • Brain Stem / drug effects
  • Brain Stem / growth & development*
  • Hypoxia / physiopathology
  • Inhalation / drug effects
  • Inhalation / physiology*
  • Nerve Net / drug effects
  • Nerve Net / growth & development*
  • Neural Inhibition / drug effects
  • Neural Inhibition / physiology
  • Periodicity
  • Rats
  • Respiratory Center / drug effects
  • Respiratory Center / growth & development*
  • Sodium Channel Blockers / pharmacology
  • Sodium Channels / drug effects
  • Sodium Channels / physiology*
  • Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology

Substances

  • Sodium Channel Blockers
  • Sodium Channels