Serotonergic and noradrenergic effects on respiratory neural discharge in the medullary slice preparation of neonatal rats

The hypoxic respiratory response of the pre-Bötzinger complex

Since the discovery of the pre-Bötzinger Complex (preBötC) as a crucial region for generating the main respiratory rhythm, our understanding of its cellular and molecular aspects has rapidly increased within the last few decades. It is now apparent that preBötC is a highly flexible neuronal network that reconfigures state-dependently to produce the most appropriate respiratory output in response to various metabolic challenges, such as hypoxia. However, the responses of the preBötC to hypoxic conditions can be varied based on the intensity, pattern, and duration of the hypoxic challenge. This review discusses the preBötC response to hypoxic challenges at the cellular and network level. Particularly, the involvement of preBötC in the classical biphasic response of the respiratory network to acute hypoxia is illuminated. Furthermore, the article discusses the functional and structural changes of preBötC neurons following intermittent and sustained hypoxic challenges. Accumulating evidence shows that the preBötC neural circuits undergo substantial changes following hypoxia and contribute to several types of the respiratory system's hypoxic ventilatory responses.

Cyclic nucleotides modulate genioglossus and hypoglossal responses to excitatory inputs in rats

RATIONALE

Previous studies modulating pharyngeal muscle activity with pharmacologic approaches have targeted membrane receptors on pharyngeal motoneurons. Whether modulation of intracellular pathways can increase pharyngeal muscle activity, however, has not been investigated but is relevant to pharmacologic treatments of obstructive sleep apnea.

OBJECTIVES

To determine if modulating the second messenger cyclic adenosine-3'-5'-monophosphate (cAMP) at the hypoglossal motor nucleus (HMN) will increase genioglossus activity across sleep- wake states.

METHODS

Forty-eight rats were implanted with electroencephalogram and neck electrodes to record sleep-wake states and genioglossus and diaphragm electrodes for respiratory muscle recordings. Microdialysis probes were inserted into the HMN to perfuse artificial cerebrospinal fluid and (1) forskolin (500 microM, adenylyl cyclase activator to increase cAMP), (2) a cAMP analog (500 microM), (3) iso-butyl-methylxanthine (IBMX; 300 microM, phosphodiesterase inhibitor), or (4) a cyclic guanosine-3'-5'-monophosphate (cGMP) analog (500 microM, 8-Br-cGMP).

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Forskolin and the cAMP analog at the HMN increased respiratory-related and tonic genioglossus activities in wakefulness and non-REM sleep but not REM sleep. IBMX did not affect genioglossus activity in awake or sleeping rats. However, IBMX abolished the robust excitatory responses to serotonin and phenylephrine at the HMN, but responses to non-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor activation remained. These effects of IBMX were mimicked by 8-Br-cGMP.

CONCLUSIONS

Genioglossus responses to manipulation of cAMP at the HMN are differentially modulated by sleep-wake state. Selective abolition of serotonin and phenylephrine responses after IBMX suggests that under conditions of nonspecific phosphodiesterase inhibition the HMN is unresponsive to certain, otherwise potent, excitatory inputs. Similar responses with 8-Br-cGMP suggest this effect is likely mediated by cGMP pathways.