Neurotransmission in the carotid body and anesthesia

Postsynaptic action of GABA in modulating sensory transmission in co-cultures of rat carotid body via GABA(A) receptors

GABA is expressed in carotid body (CB) chemoreceptor type I cells and has previously been reported to modulate sensory transmission via presynaptic GABA(B) receptors. Because low doses of clinically important GABA(A) receptor (GABA(A)R) agonists, e.g. benzodiazepines, have been reported to depress afferent CB responses to hypoxia, we investigated the potential contribution of GABA(A)R in co-cultures of rat type I cells and sensory petrosal neurones (PNs). During gramicidin perforated-patch recordings (to preserve intracellular Cl-), GABA and/or the GABA(A) agonist muscimol (50 microm) induced a bicuculline-sensitive membrane depolarization in isolated PNs. GABA-induced whole-cell currents reversed at approximately -38 mV and had an EC50 of approximately 10 microm (Hill coefficient = approximately 1) at -60 mV. During simultaneous PN and type I cell recordings at functional chemosensory units in co-culture, bicuculline reversibly potentiated the PN, but not type I cell, depolarizing response to hypoxia. Application of the CB excitatory neurotransmitter ATP (1 microm) over the soma of functional PN induced a spike discharge that was markedly suppressed during co-application with GABA (2 microm), even though GABA alone was excitatory. RT-PCR analysis detected expression of GABAergic markers including mRNA for alpha1, alpha2, beta2, gamma2S, gamma2L and gamma3 GABA(A)R subunits in petrosal ganglia extracts. Also, CB extracts contained mRNAs for GABA biosynthetic markers, i.e. glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) isoforms GAD 67A,E, and GABA transporter isoforms GAT 2,3 and BGT-1. In CB sections, sensory nerve endings apposed to type I cells were immunopositive for the GABA(A)R beta subunit. These data suggest that GABA, released from the CB during hypoxia, inhibits sensory discharge postsynaptically via a shunting mechanism involving GABA(A) receptors.

Developmental profile of cholinergic and purinergic traits and receptors in peripheral chemoreflex pathway in cats

This study describes the developmental profile of specific aspects of cholinergic and purinergic neurotransmission in key organs of the peripheral chemoreflex: the carotid body (CB), petrosal ganglion (PG) and superior cervical ganglion (SCG). Using real time RT-PCR and Western blot analyses, we assessed both mRNA and protein expression levels for choline-acetyl-transferase (ChAT), nicotinic receptor (subunits alpha3, alpha4, alpha7, and beta2), ATP and purinergic receptors (P2X2 and P2X3). These analyses were performed on tissue from 1- and 15-day-old, 2-month-old, and adult cats. During development, ChAT protein expression level increased slightly in CB; however, this increase was more important in PG and SCG. In CB, mRNA level for alpha4 nicotinic receptor subunit decreased during development (90% higher in 1-day-old cats than in adults). In the PG, mRNA level for beta2 nicotinic receptor subunit increased during development (80% higher in adults than in 1-day-old cats). In SCG, mRNA for alpha7 nicotinic receptor levels increased (400% higher in adults vs. 1-day-old cats). Conversely, P2X2 receptor protein level was not altered during development in CB and decreased slightly in PG; a similar pattern was observed for the P2X3 receptor. Our findings suggest that in cats, age-related changes in cholinergic and purinergic systems (such as physiological expression of receptor function) are significant within the afferent chemoreceptor pathway and likely contribute to the temporal changes of O2-chemosensitivity during development.

Neurotransmitters in carotid body development

This review examines the possible role of neurotransmitters present in the carotid body on the functional expression of chemosensory activity during postnatal development. In particular, dopamine, acetylcholine, adenosine and neuropeptides are reviewed. Evidence to date shows involvement of these transmitters in signal transmission from the chemoreceptor cells to chemosensory afferent fibers of the sinus nerve, with clear age- or maturation-dependence of some aspects. However, it remains unresolved whether these neurotransmitters, some of which are expressed in the carotid body before birth, are directly involved in the maturation of the functional properties of the carotid chemoreceptors in sensing oxygen or other stimuli during postnatal development.