Control of breathing in anuran amphibians

An overview of the phylogeny of cardiorespiratory control in vertebrates with some reflections on the 'Polyvagal Theory'

Mammals show clear changes in heart rate linked to lung ventilation, characterized as respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). These changes are controlled in part by variations in the level of inhibitory control exerted on the heart by the parasympathetic arm of the autonomic nervous system (PNS). This originates from preganglionic neurons in the nucleus ambiguous that supply phasic, respiration-related activity to the cardiac branch of the vagus nerve, via myelinated, efferent fibres with rapid conduction velocities. An elaboration of these central mechanisms, under the control of a 'vagal system' has been endowed by psychologists with multiple functions concerned with 'social engagement' in mammals and, in particular, humans. Long-term study of cardiorespiratory interactions (CRI) in other major groups of vertebrates has established that they all show both tonic and phasic control of heart rate, imposed by the PNS. This derives centrally from neurones located in variously distributed nuclei, supplying the heart via fast-conducting, myelinated, efferent fibres. Water-breathing vertebrates, which include fishes and larval amphibians, typically show direct, 1:1 CRI between heart beats and gill ventilation, controlled from the dorsal vagal motor nucleus. In air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates, including reptiles, amphibians and lungfish, CRI mirroring RSA have been shown to improve oxygen uptake during phasic ventilation by changes in perfusion of their respiratory organs, due to shunting of blood over across their undivided hearts. This system may constitute the evolutionary basis of that generating RSA in mammals, which now lacks a major physiological role in respiratory gas exchange, due to their completely divided systemic and pulmonary circulations.

A brainstem preparation allowing simultaneous access to respiratory motor output and cellular properties of motoneurons in American bullfrogs

Breathing is generated by a complex neural circuit, and the ability to monitor the activity of multiple network components simultaneously is required to uncover the cellular basis of breathing. In neonatal rodents, a single brainstem slice can be obtained to record respiratory-related motor nerve discharge along with individual rhythm-generating cells or motoneurons because of the close proximity of these neurons in the brainstem. However, most ex vivo preparations in other vertebrates can only capture respiratory motor outflow or electrophysiological properties of putative respiratory neurons in slices without relevant synaptic inputs. Here, we detail a method to horizontally slice away the dorsal portion of the brainstem to expose fluorescently labeled motoneurons for patch-clamp recordings in American bullfrogs. This 'semi-intact' preparation allows tandem recordings of motor output and single motoneurons during respiratory-related synaptic inputs. The rhythmic motor patterns are comparable to those from intact preparations and operate at physiological temperature and [K+]. Thus, this preparation provides the ability to record network and cellular outputs simultaneously and may lead to new mechanistic insights into breathing control across vertebrates.

Evolution of vertebrate respiratory central rhythm generators

Tracing the evolution of the central rhythm generators associated with ventilation in vertebrates is hindered by a lack of information surrounding key transitions. To begin with, central rhythm generation has been studied in detail in only a few species from four vertebrate groups, lamprey, anuran amphibians, turtles, and mammals (primarily rodents). Secondly, there is a lack of information regarding the transition from water breathing fish to air breathing amniotes (reptiles, birds, and mammals). Specifically, the respiratory rhythm generators of fish appear to be single oscillators capable of generating both phases of the respiratory cycle (expansion and compression) and projecting to motoneurons in cranial nerves innervating bucco-pharyngeal muscles. In the amniotes we find oscillators capable of independently generating separate phases of the respiratory cycle (expiration and inspiration) and projecting to pre-motoneurons in the ventrolateral medulla that in turn project to spinal motoneurons innervating thoracic and abdominal muscles (reptiles, birds, and mammals). Studies of the one group of amphibians that lie at this transition (the anurans), raise intriguing possibilities but, for a variety of reasons that we explore, also raise unanswered questions. In this review we summarize what is known about the rhythm generating circuits associated with breathing that arise from the different rhombomeric segments in each of the different vertebrate classes. Assuming oscillating circuits form in every pair of rhombomeres in every vertebrate during development, we trace what appears to be the evolutionary fate of each and highlight the questions that remain to be answered to properly understand the evolutionary transitions in vertebrate central respiratory rhythm generation.

The Tale-Tell Heart: Evolutionary tetrapod shift from aquatic to terrestrial life-style reflected in heart changes in axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)

BACKGROUND

During amphibian metamorphosis, the crucial moment lies in the rearrangement of the heart, reflecting the changes in circulatory demands. However, little is known about the exact shifts linked with this rearrangement. Here, we demonstrate such myocardial changes in axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) from the morphological and physiological point of view.

RESULTS

Micro-CT and histological analysis showed changes in ventricular trabeculae organization, completion of the atrial septum and its connection to the atrioventricular valve. Based on Myosin Heavy Chain and Smooth Muscle Actin expression we distinguished metamorphosis-induced changes in myocardial differentiation at the ventricular trabeculae and atrioventricular canal. Using optical mapping, faster speed of conduction through the atrioventricular canal was demonstrated in metamorphic animals. No differences between the groups were observed in the heart rates, ventricular activation times, and activation patterns.

CONCLUSIONS

Transition from aquatic to terrestrial life-style is reflected in the heart morphology and function. Rebuilding of the axolotl heart during metamorphosis was connected with reorganization of ventricular trabeculae, completion of the atrial septum and its connection to the atrioventricular valve, and acceleration of AV conduction.

Astrocytic contribution to glutamate-related central respiratory chemoreception in vertebrates

Central respiratory chemoreceptors play a key role in the respiratory homeostasis by sensing CO₂ and H⁺ in brain and activating the respiratory neural network. This ability of specific brain regions to respond to acidosis and hypercapnia is based on neuronal and glial mechanisms. Several decades ago, glutamatergic transmission was proposed to be involved as a main mechanism in central chemoreception. However, a complete identification of mechanism has been elusive. At the rostral medulla, chemosensitive neurons of the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) are glutamatergic and they are stimulated by ATP released by RTN astrocytes in response to hypercapnia. In addition, recent findings show that caudal medullary astrocytes in brainstem can also contribute as CO₂ and H⁺ sensors that release D-serine and glutamate, both gliotransmitters able to activate the respiratory neural network. In this review, we describe the mammalian astrocytic glutamatergic contribution to the central respiratory chemoreception trying to trace in vertebrates the emergence of several components involved in this process.

5-HT neurons of the medullary raphe contribute to respiratory control in toads

Air-breathing vertebrates undergo respiratory adjustments when faced with disturbances in the gas composition of the environment. In mammals, the medullary raphe nuclei are involved in the neuronal pathway that mediates the ventilatory responses to hypoxia and hypercarbia. We investigate whether the serotoninergic neurons of the medullary raphe nuclei of toads (Rhinella diptycha) play a functional role in respiratory control during resting conditions (room air), hypercarbia (5% CO₂), and hypoxia (5% O₂). The raphe nuclei were located and identified based on the location of the serotoninergic neurons in the brainstem. We then lesioned the medullary raphe (raphe pallidus, obscurus and magnus) with anti-SERT-SAP and measured ventilation in both control and lesioned groups and we observed that serotonin (5-HT) specific chemical lesions of the medullary raphe caused reduced respiratory responses to both hypercarbia and hypoxia. In summary, we report that the serotoninergic neurons of the medullary raphe of the cururu toad Rhinella diptycha participate in the chemoreflex responses during hypercarbia and hypoxia, but not during resting conditions. This current evidence in anurans, together with the available data in mammals, brings insights to the evolution of brain sites, such as the medullary raphe, involved in the ventilatory chemoreflex in vertebrates.

Orexin-A inhibits fictive air breathing responses to respiratory stimuli in the bullfrog tadpole (Lithobates catesbeianus)

In pre-metamorphic tadpoles, the neural network generating lung ventilation is present but actively inhibited; the mechanisms leading to the onset of air breathing are not well understood. Orexin (ORX) is a hypothalamic neuropeptide that regulates several homeostatic functions, including breathing. While ORX has limited effects on breathing at rest, it potentiates reflexive responses to respiratory stimuli mainly via ORX receptor 1 (OX1R). Here, we tested the hypothesis that OX1Rs facilitate the expression of the motor command associated with air breathing in pre-metamorphic bullfrog tadpoles (Lithobates catesbeianus). To do so, we used an isolated diencephalic brainstem preparation to determine the contributions of OX1Rs to respiratory motor output during baseline breathing, hypercapnia and hypoxia. A selective OX1R antagonist (SB-334867; 5-25 µmol l-1) or agonist (ORX-A; 200 nmol l-1 to 1 µmol l-1) was added to the superfusion media. Experiments were performed under basal conditions (media equilibrated with 98.2% O2 and 1.8% CO2), hypercapnia (5% CO2) or hypoxia (5-7% O2). Under resting conditions gill, but not lung, motor output was enhanced by the OX1R antagonist and ORX-A. Hypercapnia alone did not stimulate respiratory motor output, but its combination with SB-334867 increased lung burst frequency and amplitude, lung burst episodes, and the number of bursts per episode. Hypoxia alone increased lung burst frequency and its combination with SB-334867 enhanced this effect. Inactivation of OX1Rs during hypoxia also increased gill burst amplitude, but not frequency. In contrast with our initial hypothesis, we conclude that ORX neurons provide inhibitory modulation of the CO2 and O2 chemoreflexes in pre-metamorphic tadpoles.

Posture as a Non-Invasive Indicator of Arousal in American Toads (Anaxyrus americanus)

Animal welfare has become a priority for modern zoos and aquariums. However, amphibians have not yet been the focus of much welfare research, perhaps in part because they do not tend to display many quantifiable active behaviors. This study focused on nine zoo-housed American toads (Anaxyrus americanus), a species that displays long periods of sedentary behavior, to explore whether more subtle cues could serve as welfare indicators. A novel American toad posture index was developed that characterized toad posture based on the angle of their forelimbs, visibility of ventral regions, and body weight distribution. As an indicator of arousal, approximate breathing rates were assessed based on the rate of expansion of the toads’ throats. Subsequent analyses revealed that lower body postures were associated with slower rates of throat expansion and raised postures with faster rates of throat expansion, suggesting that posture may be a promising way to quickly and non-invasively assess toad arousal. This work lays important groundwork for assessing welfare of an understudied species, and we are optimistic that, with additional validation, these approaches can be applied in future amphibian welfare research.

Olfaction across the water-air interface in anuran amphibians

Extant anuran amphibians originate from an evolutionary intersection eventually leading to fully terrestrial tetrapods. In many ways, they have to deal with exposure to both terrestrial and aquatic environments: (i) phylogenetically, as derivatives of the first tetrapod group that conquered the terrestrial environment in evolution; (ii) ontogenetically, with a development that includes aquatic and terrestrial stages connected via metamorphic remodeling; and (iii) individually, with common changes in habitat during the life cycle. Our knowledge about the structural organization and function of the amphibian olfactory system and its relevance still lags behind findings on mammals. It is a formidable challenge to reveal underlying general principles of circuity-related, cellular, and molecular properties that are beneficial for an optimized sense of smell in water and air. Recent findings in structural organization coupled with behavioral observations could help to understand the importance of the sense of smell in this evolutionarily important animal group. We describe the structure of the peripheral olfactory organ, the olfactory bulb, and higher olfactory centers on a tissue, cellular, and molecular levels. Differences and similarities between the olfactory systems of anurans and other vertebrates are reviewed. Special emphasis lies on adaptations that are connected to the distinct demands of olfaction in water and air environment. These particular adaptations are discussed in light of evolutionary trends, ontogenetic development, and ecological demands.

The narial musculature of Alligator mississippiensis: Can a muscle be its own antagonist?

The crocodilian naris is regulated by smooth muscle. The morphology of this system was investigated using a combination of gross, light microscopic, and micro-CT analyses, while the mechanics of narial regulation were examined using a combination of Hall Effect sensors, narial manometry, and electromyography. Alligator mississippiensis, like other crocodilians, routinely switches among multiple ventilatory mechanics and does not occlude the nares during any portion of the ventilatory cycle. In a complex that is unique among vertebrates, a single block of smooth muscle functions in dilation when active, and in constriction when passive. The alligator nares may include one of the best examples of a muscle that functions in "pushing" as well as "pulling." The central muscle for narial regulation, the dilator naris, can legitimately be viewed as its own antagonist.

Development of central respiratory control in anurans: The role of neurochemicals in the emergence of air-breathing and the hypoxic response

Physiological and environmental factors impacting respiratory homeostasis vary throughout the course of an animal's lifespan from embryo to adult and can shape respiratory development. The developmental emergence of complex neural networks for aerial breathing dates back to ancestral vertebrates, and represents the most important process for respiratory development in extant taxa ranging from fish to mammals. While substantial progress has been made towards elucidating the anatomical and physiological underpinnings of functional respiratory control networks for air-breathing, much less is known about the mechanisms establishing these networks during early neurodevelopment. This is especially true of the complex neurochemical ensembles key to the development of air-breathing. One approach to this issue has been to utilize comparative models such as anuran amphibians, which offer a unique perspective into early neurodevelopment. Here, we review the developmental emergence of respiratory behaviours in anuran amphibians with emphasis on contributions of neurochemicals to this process and highlight opportunities for future research.

Sex differences in breathing

Breathing is a vital behavior that ensures both the adequate supply of oxygen and the elimination of CO₂, and it is influenced by many factors. Despite that most of the studies in respiratory physiology rely heavily on male subjects, there is much evidence to suggest that sex is an important factor in the respiratory control system, including the susceptibility for some diseases. These different respiratory responses in males and females may be related to the actions of sex hormones, especially in adulthood. These hormones affect neuromodulatory systems that influence the central medullary rhythm/pontine pattern generator and integrator, sensory inputs to the integrator and motor output to the respiratory muscles. In this article, we will first review the sex dependence on the prevalence of some respiratory-related diseases. Then, we will discuss the role of sex and gonadal hormones in respiratory control under resting conditions and during respiratory challenges, such as hypoxia and hypercapnia, and whether hormonal fluctuations during the estrous/menstrual cycle affect breathing control. We will then discuss the role of the locus coeruleus, a sexually dimorphic CO₂/pH-chemosensitive nucleus, on breathing regulation in males and females. Next, we will highlight the studies that exist regarding sex differences in respiratory control during development. Finally, the few existing studies regarding the influence of sex on breathing control in non-mammalian vertebrates will be discussed.

Buccal rhythmogenesis and CO2 sensitivity in Lithobates catesbeianus tadpole brainstems across metamorphosis

Bullfrog tadpoles ventilate both the buccal cavity and lung. In isolated brainstems, the midbrain/pons influences CO₂ responsiveness and timing of lung ventilatory bursting, depending on larval development. However, little is known about midbrain/pons influences on buccal burst patterns. As such, we investigated how removal of this region affects buccal burst shape and CO₂ responsiveness across development. We measured facial nerve activity in brainstems isolated from tadpoles during early and late developmental stages, under normal and elevated levels of CO₂. Brainstems were either left intact or transected by removing the midbrain/pons. In late stage preparations, buccal burst pattern differed between intact and reduced preparations, and bursts were responsive to elevated CO₂ in these reduced preparations. These results suggest the midbrain/pons affects tadpole buccal burst pattern and CO₂ responsiveness, perhaps similar to its influences on lung ventilation.

Neural network model of an amphibian ventilatory central pattern generator

The neuronal multiunit model presented here is a formal model of the central pattern generator (CPG) of the amphibian ventilatory neural network, inspired by experimental data from Pelophylax ridibundus. The kernel of the CPG consists of three pacemakers and two follower neurons (buccal and lung respectively). This kernel is connected to a chain of excitatory and inhibitory neurons organized in loops. Simulations are performed with Izhikevich-type neurons. When driven by the buccal follower, the excitatory neurons transmit and reorganize the follower activity pattern along the chain, and when driven by the lung follower, the excitatory and inhibitory neurons of the chain fire in synchrony. The additive effects of synaptic inputs from the pacemakers on the buccal follower account for (1) the low frequency buccal rhythm, (2) the intra-burst high frequency oscillations, and (3) the episodic lung activity. Chemosensitivity to acidosis is implemented by an increase in the firing frequency of one of the pacemakers. This frequency increase leads to both a decrease in the buccal burst frequency and an increase in the lung episode frequency. The rhythmogenic properties of the model are robust against synaptic noise and pacemaker jitter. To validate the rhythm and pattern genesis of this formal CPG, neurograms were built from simulated motoneuron activity, and compared with experimental neurograms. The basic principles of our model account for several experimental observations, and we suggest that these principles may be generic for amphibian ventilation.

Developmental Maturation of Functional Coupling Between Ventilatory Oscillators in the American Bullfrog

Many vital motor behaviors - including locomotion, swallowing, and breathing - appear to be dependent upon the activity of and coordination between multiple endogenously rhythmogenic nuclei, or neural oscillators. Much as the functional development of sensory circuits is shaped during maturation, we hypothesized that coordination of oscillators involved in motor control may likewise be maturation-dependent, i.e., coupling and coordination between oscillators change over development. We tested this hypothesis using the bullfrog isolated brainstem preparation to study the metamorphic transition of ventilatory motor patterns from early rhythmic buccal (water) ventilation in the tadpole to the mature pattern of rhythmic buccal and lung (air) ventilation in the adult. Spatially distinct oscillators drive buccal and lung bursts in the isolated brainstem; we found these oscillators to be active but functionally uncoupled in the tadpole. Over the course of metamorphosis, the rhythms produced by the buccal and lung oscillators become increasingly tightly coordinated. These changes parallel the progression of structural and behavioral changes in the animal, with adult levels of coupling arising by the metamorphic stage (forelimb eruption). These findings suggest that oscillator coupling undergoes a maturation process similar to the refinement of sensory circuits over development.

The rostral medulla of bullfrog tadpoles contains critical lung rhythmogenic and chemosensitive regions across metamorphosis

The development of amphibian breathing provides insight into vertebrate respiratory control mechanisms. Neural oscillators in the rostral and caudal medulla drive ventilation in amphibians, and previous reports describe ventilatory oscillators and CO₂ sensitive regions arise during different stages of amphibian metamorphosis. However, inconsistent findings have been enigmatic, and make comparisons to potential mammalian counterparts challenging. In the current study we assessed amphibian central CO₂ responsiveness and respiratory rhythm generation during two different developmental stages. Whole-nerve recordings of respiratory burst activity in cranial and spinal nerves were made from intact or transected brainstems isolated from tadpoles during early or late stages of metamorphosis. Brainstems were transected at the level of the trigeminal nerve, removing rostral structures including the nucleus isthmi, midbrain, and locus coeruleus, or transected at the level of the glossopharyngeal nerve, removing the putative buccal oscillator and caudal medulla. Removal of caudal structures stimulated the frequency of lung ventilatory bursts and revealed a hypercapnic response in normally unresponsive preparations derived from early stage tadpoles. In preparations derived from late stage tadpoles, removal of rostral or caudal structures reduced lung burst frequency, while CO₂ responsiveness was retained. Our results illustrate that structures within the rostral medulla are capable of sensing CO₂ throughout metamorphic development. Similarly, the region controlling lung ventilation appears to be contained in the rostral medulla throughout metamorphosis. This work offers insight into the consistency of rhythmic respiratory and chemosensitive capacities during metamorphosis.

Temperature effects on the cardiorespiratory control of American bullfrog tadpoles based on a non-invasive methodology

Temperature effects on cardiac autonomic tonus in amphibian larval stages have never been investigated. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of different temperatures (15, 25 and 30°C) on the cardiorespiratory rates and cardiac autonomic tonus of premetamorphic tadpoles of the bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus To this end, a non-invasive method was developed to permit measurements of electrocardiogram (ECG) and buccal movements (f_B; surface electromyography of the buccal floor). For evaluation of autonomic regulation, intraperitoneal injections of Ringer solution (control), atropine (cholinergic muscarinic antagonist) and sotalol (β-adrenergic antagonist) were performed. Ringer solution injections did not affect heart rate (f_H) or f_B across temperatures. Cardiorespiratory parameters were significantly augmented by temperature (f_H: 24.5±1.0, 54.5±2.0 and 75.8±2.8 beats min^-1 at 15, 25 and 30°C, respectively; f_B: 30.3±1.1, 73.1±4.0 and 100.6±3.7 movements min^-1 at 15, 25 and 30°C, respectively). A predominant vagal tone was observed at 15°C (32.0±3.2%) and 25°C (27.2±6.7%) relative to the adrenergic tone. At 30°C, the adrenergic tone increased relative to the lower temperature. In conclusion, the cholinergic and adrenergic tones seem to be independent of temperature for colder thermal intervals (15-25°C), while exposure to a hotter ambient temperature (30°C) seems to be followed by a significant increase in adrenergic tone and may reflect cardiovascular adjustments made to match oxygen delivery to demand. Furthermore, while excluding the use of implantable electrodes or cannulae, this study provides a suitable non-invasive method for investigating cardiorespiratory function (cardiac and respiratory rates) in water-breathing animals such as the tadpole.

Activation of respiratory muscles does not occur during cold-submergence in bullfrogs, Lithobates catesbeianus

Semiaquatic frogs may not breathe air for several months because they overwinter in ice-covered ponds. In contrast to many vertebrates that experience decreased motor performance after inactivity, respiratory motor function in bullfrogs, Lithobates catesbeianus, remains functional following cold-submergence. Unlike mammalian hibernators with unloaded limb muscles and inactive locomotor systems, respiratory mechanics of frogs counterintuitively allow for ventilatory maneuvers when submerged. Thus we hypothesized that bullfrogs generate respiratory motor patterns during cold-submergence to avoid disuse and preserve motor performance. Accordingly, we measured activity of respiratory muscles (buccal floor compressor and glottal dilator) via electromyography in freely behaving bullfrogs at 20°C and 2°C. Although we confirm that ventilation cycles occur underwater at 20°C, bullfrogs did not activate either respiratory muscle when submerged acutely or chronically at 2°C. We conclude that cold-submerged bullfrogs endure respiratory motor inactivity, implying that other mechanisms, excluding underwater muscle activation, maintain a functional respiratory motor system throughout overwintering.

Environmentally induced return to juvenile-like chemosensitivity in the respiratory control system of adult bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus

KEY POINTS

The degree to which developmental programmes or environmental signals determine physiological phenotypes remains a major question in physiology. Vertebrates change environments during development, confounding interpretation of the degree to which development (i.e. permanent processes) or phenotypic plasticity (i.e. reversible processes) produces phenotypes. Tadpoles mainly breathe water for gas exchange and frogs may breathe water or air depending on their environment and are, therefore, exemplary models to differentiate the degree to which life-stage vs. environmental context drives developmental phenotypes associated with neural control of lung breathing. Using isolated brainstem preparations and patch clamp electrophysiology, we demonstrate that adult bullfrogs acclimatized to water-breathing conditions do not exhibit CO₂ and O₂ chemosensitivity of lung breathing, similar to water-breathing tadpoles. Our results establish that phenotypes associated with developmental stage may arise from plasticity per se and suggest that a developmental trajectory coinciding with environmental change obscures origins of stage-dependent physiological phenotypes by masking plasticity.

ABSTRACT

An unanswered question in developmental physiology is to what extent does the environment vs. a genetic programme produce phenotypes? Developing animals inhabit different environments and switch from one to another. Thus a developmental time course overlapping with environmental change confounds interpretations as to whether development (i.e. permanent processes) or phenotypic plasticity (i.e. reversible processes) generates phenotypes. Tadpoles of the American bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus, breathe water at early life-stages and minimally use lungs for gas exchange. As adults, bullfrogs rely on lungs for gas exchange, but spend months per year in ice-covered ponds without lung breathing. Aquatic submergence, therefore, removes environmental pressures requiring lung breathing and enables separation of adulthood from environmental factors associated with adulthood that necessitate control of lung ventilation. To test the hypothesis that postmetamorphic respiratory control phenotypes arise through permanent developmental changes vs. reversible environmental signals, we measured respiratory-related nerve discharge in isolated brainstem preparations and action potential firing from CO₂ -sensitive neurons in bullfrogs acclimatized to semi-terrestrial (air-breathing) and aquatic-overwintering (no air-breathing) habitats. We found that aquatic overwintering significantly reduced neuroventilatory responses to CO₂ and O₂ involved in lung breathing. Strikingly, this gas sensitivity profile reflects that of water-breathing tadpoles. We further demonstrated that aquatic overwintering reduced CO₂ -induced firing responses of chemosensitive neurons. In contrast, respiratory rhythm generating processes remained adult-like after submergence. Our results establish that phenotypes associated with life-stage can arise from phenotypic plasticity per se. This provides evidence that developmental time courses coinciding with environmental changes obscure interpretations regarding origins of stage-dependent physiological phenotypes by masking plasticity.

Effects of glyphosate and the glyphosate based herbicides Roundup Original(®) and Roundup Transorb(®) on respiratory morphophysiology of bullfrog tadpoles

Glyphosate-based herbicides are widely used in agriculture and are commonly found in water bodies. Roundup Original(®) (RO) contains an isopropylamine glyphosate (GLY) salt containing the surfactant POEA, while Roundup Transorb R(®) (RTR) contains a potassium salt of GLY with unknown surfactants. Both contain different compositions of so-called "inert" ingredients, more toxic than glyphosate. Amphibian tadpoles often experience variations in O2 availability in their aquatic habitats; an ability to tolerate hypoxia can condition their survival and fitness. We evaluated the impacts of sublethal concentrations of GLY (1 mg L(-1)), RO (1 mg L(-1) GLY a.e) and RTR (1 mg L(-1) GLY a.e) on metabolic rate (V·O2 - mLO2 Kg1 h(-1)) of bullfrog tadpoles during normoxia and graded hypoxia, and related this to morphology of their skin, their major site of gas exchange. In control (CT) V·O2 remained unaltered from normoxia until 40 mmHg, indicating a critical O2 tension between 40 and 20 mmHg. GLY significantly reduced V·O2, possibly due to epidermal hypertrophy, which increased O2 diffusion distance to O2 uptake. In contrast, RTR increased V·O2 during hypoxia, indicating an influence of "inert" compounds and surfactants. V·O2 of RO did not differ from CT, suggesting that any increase in V·O2 caused by exposure was antagonized by epidermal hypertrophy. Indeed, all herbicides caused marked alterations in skin morphology, with cell and epithelium wall presenting hyperplasia or hypertrophy and chromatid rupture. In summary, GLY, RO and RTR exert different effects in bullfrog tadpoles, in particular the surfactants and inert compounds appear to influence oxygen uptake.

Diving into the mammalian swamp of respiratory rhythm generation with the bullfrog

All vertebrates produce some form of respiratory rhythm, whether to pump water over gills or ventilate lungs. Yet despite the critical importance of ventilation for survival, the architecture of the respiratory central pattern generator has not been resolved. In frogs and mammals, there is increasing evidence for multiple burst-generating regions in the ventral respiratory group. These regions work together to produce the respiratory rhythm. However, each region appears to be pivotally important to a different phase of the motor act. Regions also exhibit differing rhythmogenic capabilities when isolated and have different CO2 sensitivity and pharmacological profiles. Interestingly, in both frogs and rats the regions with the most robust rhythmogenic capabilities when isolated are located in rhombomeres 7/8. In addition, rhombomeres 4/5 in both clades are critical for controlling phases of the motor pattern most strongly modulated by CO2 (expiration in mammals, and recruitment of lung bursts in frogs). These key signatures may indicate that these cell clusters arose in a common ancestor at least 400 million years ago.

Three brainstem areas involved in respiratory rhythm generation in bullfrogs

For most multiphasic motor patterns, rhythm and pattern are produced by the same circuit elements. For respiration, however, these functions have long been assumed to occur separately. In frogs, the ventilatory motor pattern produced by the isolated brainstem consists of buccal and biphasic lung bursts. Previously, two discrete necessary and sufficient sites for lung and buccal bursts were identified. Here we identify a third site, the Priming Area, important for and having neuronal activity correlated with the first phase of biphasic lung bursts. As each site is important for burst generation of a separate phase, we suggest each major phase of ventilation is produced by an anatomically distinct part of an extensive brainstem network. Embedding of discrete circuit elements producing major phases of respiration within an extensive rhythmogenic brainstem network may be a shared architectural characteristic of vertebrates.

ABSTRACT

Ventilation in mammals consists of at least three distinct phases: inspiration, post-inspiration and late-expiration. While distinct brainstem rhythm generating and pattern forming networks have long been assumed, recent data suggest the mammalian brainstem contains two coupled neuronal oscillators: one for inspiration and the other for active expiration. However, whether additional burst generating ability is required for generating other phases of ventilation in mammals is controversial. To investigate brainstem circuit architectures capable of producing multiphasic ventilatory rhythms, we utilized the isolated frog brainstem. This preparation produces two types of ventilatory motor patterns, buccal and lung bursts. Lung bursts can be divided into two phases, priming and powerstroke. Previously we identified two putative oscillators, the Buccal and Lung Areas. The Lung Area produces the lung powerstroke and the Buccal Area produces buccal bursts and - we assumed - the priming phase of lung bursts. However, here we identify an additional brainstem region that generates the priming phase. This Priming Area extends rostral and caudal of the Lung Area and is distinct from the Buccal Area. Using AMPA microinjections and reversible synaptic blockade, we demonstrate selective excitation and ablation (respectively) of priming phase activity. We also demonstrate that the Priming Area contains neurons active selectively during the priming phase. Thus, we propose that three distinct neuronal components generate the multiphase respiratory motor pattern produced by the frog brainstem: the buccal, priming and powerstroke burst generators. This raises the possibility that a similar multi-burst generator architecture mediates the three distinct phases of ventilation in mammals.

Graded hypoxia acts through a network of distributed peripheral oxygen chemoreceptors to produce changes in respiratory behaviour and plasticity

Respiratory behaviour relies critically upon sensory feedback from peripheral oxygen chemoreceptors. During environmental or systemic hypoxia, chemoreceptor input modulates respiratory central pattern generator activity to produce reflex-based increases in respiration and also shapes respiratory plasticity over longer timescales. The best-studied oxygen chemoreceptors are undoubtedly the mammalian carotid bodies; however, questions remain regarding this complex organ's role in shaping respiration in response to varying oxygen levels. Furthermore, many taxa possess distinct oxygen chemoreceptors located within the lungs, airways and cardiovasculature, but the functional advantage of multiple chemoreceptor sites is unclear. In this study, it is demonstrated that a distributed network of peripheral oxygen chemoreceptors exists in Lymnaea stagnalis and significantly modulates aerial respiration. Specifically, Lymnaea breath frequency and duration represent parameters that are shaped by interactions between hypoxic severity and its time-course. Using a combination of behaviour and electrophysiology approaches, the chemosensory pathways underlying hypoxia-induced changes in breath frequency/duration were explored. The current findings demonstrate that breath frequency is uniquely modulated by the known osphradial ganglion oxygen chemoreceptors during moderate hypoxia, while a newly discovered area of pneumostome oxygen chemoreception serves a similar function specifically during more severe hypoxia. Together, these findings suggest that multiple oxygen chemosensory sites, each with their own sensory and modulatory properties, act synergistically to form a functionally distributed network that dynamically shapes respiration in response to changing systemic or environmental oxygen levels. These distributed networks may represent an evolutionarily conserved strategy vis-à-vis respiratory adaptability and have significant implications for the understanding of fundamental respiratory control systems.

Stunted by Developing in Hypoxia: Linking Comparative and Model Organism Studies

Animals develop in atmospheric hypoxia in a wide range of habitats, and tissues may experience O2 limitation of ATP production during postembryonic development if O2 supply structures do not keep pace with growing O2 demand during ontogeny. Most animal species are stunted by postembryonic development in hypoxia, showing reduced growth rates and size in moderate hypoxia (5-15 kPa Po2). In mammals, the critical Po2 that limits resting metabolic rate also falls in this same moderate hypoxic range, so stunted growth may simply be due to hypoxic limits on ATP production. However, in most invertebrates and at least some lower vertebrates, hypoxic stunting occurs at Po2 values well above those that limit resting metabolism. Studies with diverse model organisms have identified multiple homologous O2-sensing signaling pathways that can inhibit feeding and growth during moderate hypoxia. Together, these comparative and model organism-based studies suggest that hypoxic stunting of growth and size can occur as programmed inhibition of growth, often by inhibition of insulin stimulation of growth processes. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that these same O2 signaling pathways can be utilized during normal animal development to ensure matching of O2 supply and demand structures and in mediation of variation in animal performance.

Orexin in the toad Rhinella schneideri: The location of orexinergic neurons and the role of orexin in ventilatory responses to hypercarbia and hypoxia

Recent reports have suggested that orexins, also known as hypocretins, play an important role in the modulation of respiratory control in mammals, but there are no data available describing the role of the orexinergic system in the peripheral and central chemoreception of non-mammalian vertebrates. Therefore, the present study was designed to examine the localization of orexin-immunoreactive neurons in the brain of toads (Rhinella schneideri) and to investigate the contribution of orexin receptor-1 (OX1R) to the hypoxic and hypercarbic ventilatory responses of these animals during light and dark phases. Our results demonstrated that the orexinergic neurons of R. schneideri are located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the diencephalon. Additionally, the intracerebroventricular injection of SB-334867 (OX1R selective antagonist) attenuated the ventilatory response to hypercarbia during the dark phase by acting on tidal volume and breathing frequency, while during the light phase, SB-334867 attenuated the ventilatory response to hypoxia by acting on tidal volume only. We conclude that in the toad R. schneideri, orexinergic neurons are located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and that OX1R contributes to hypercarbic and hypoxic chemoreflexes.

Respiratory neuron characterization reveals intrinsic bursting properties in isolated adult turtle brainstems (Trachemys scripta)

It is not known whether respiratory neurons with intrinsic bursting properties exist within ectothermic vertebrate respiratory control systems. Thus, isolated adult turtle brainstems spontaneously producing respiratory motor output were used to identify and classify respiratory neurons based on their firing pattern relative to hypoglossal (XII) nerve activity. Most respiratory neurons (183/212) had peak activity during the expiratory phase, while inspiratory, post-inspiratory, and novel pre-expiratory neurons were less common. During synaptic blockade conditions, ∼10% of respiratory neurons fired bursts of action potentials, with post-inspiratory cells (6/9) having the highest percentage of intrinsic burst properties. Most intrinsically bursting respiratory neurons were clustered at the level of the vagus (X) nerve root. Synaptic inhibition blockade caused seizure-like activity throughout the turtle brainstem, which shows that the turtle respiratory control system is not transformed into a network driven by intrinsically bursting respiratory neurons. We hypothesize that intrinsically bursting respiratory neurons are evolutionarily conserved and represent a potential rhythmogenic mechanism contributing to respiration in adult turtles.

Temperature influences neuronal activity and CO2/pH sensitivity of locus coeruleus neurons in the bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus

The locus coeruleus (LC) is a chemoreceptive brain stem region in anuran amphibians and contains neurons sensitive to physiological changes in CO2/pH. The ventilatory and central sensitivity to CO2/pH is proportional to the temperature in amphibians, i.e., sensitivity increases with increasing temperature. We hypothesized that LC neurons from bullfrogs, Lithobates catesbeianus, would increase CO2/pH sensitivity with increasing temperature and decrease CO2/pH sensitivity with decreasing temperature. Further, we hypothesized that cooling would decrease, while warming would increase, normocapnic firing rates of LC neurons. To test these hypotheses, we used whole cell patch-clamp electrophysiology to measure firing rate, membrane potential ( Vm), and input resistance ( Rin) in LC neurons in brain stem slices from adult bullfrogs over a physiological range of temperatures during normocapnia and hypercapnia. We found that cooling reduced chemosensitive responses of LC neurons as temperature decreased until elimination of CO2/pH sensitivity at 10°C. Chemosensitive responses increased at elevated temperatures. Surprisingly, chemosensitive LC neurons increased normocapnic firing rate and underwent membrane depolarization when cooled and decreased normocapnic firing rate and underwent membrane hyperpolarization when warmed. These responses to temperature were not observed in nonchemosensitive LC neurons or neurons in a brain stem slice 500 μm rostral to the LC. Our results indicate that modulation of cellular chemosensitivity within the LC during temperature changes may influence temperature-dependent respiratory drive during acid-base disturbances in amphibians. Additionally, cold-activated/warm-inhibited LC neurons introduce paradoxical temperature sensitivity in respiratory control neurons of amphibians.

[Geographic patterns and ecological factors correlates of snake species richness in China]

Understanding large-scale geographic patterns of species richness as well its underlying mechanisms are among the most significant objectives of macroecology and biogeography. The ecological hypothesis is one of the most accepted explanations of this mechanism. Here, we studied the geographic patterns of snakes and investigated the relationships between species richness and ecological factors in China at a spatial resolution of 100 km×100 km. We obtained the eigenvector-based spatial filters by Principal Coordinates Neighbor Matrices, and then analyzed ecological factors by multiple regression analysis. The results indicated several things: (1) species richness of snakes showed multi-peak patterns along both the latitudinal and longitudinal gradient. The areas of highest richness of snake are tropics and subtropical areas of Oriental realm in China while the areas of lowest richness are Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the grasslands and deserts in northern China, Yangtze-Huai Plain, Two-lake Plain, and the Poyang-lake Plain; (2) results of multiple regression analysis explained a total of 56.5% variance in snake richness. Among ecological factors used to explore the species richness patterns, we found the best factors were the normalized difference vegetation index, precipitation in the coldest quarter and temperature annual range ; (3) our results indicated that the model based on the significant variables that (P<0.05) uses a combination of precipitation of coldest quarter, normalized difference vegetation index and temperature annual range is the most parsimonious model for explaining the mechanism of snake richness in China. This finding demonstrates that different ecological factors work together to affect the geographic distribution of snakes in China. Studying the mechanisms that underlie these geographic patterns are complex, so we must carefully consider the choice of impact-factors and the influence of human activities.

Transmission of the respiratory rhythm to trigeminal and hypoglossal motor neurons in the American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeiana)

Spatially distinct, interacting oscillators in the bullfrog medulla generate and coordinated buccal and lung ventilatory rhythms, but how these rhythms are transmitted onto trigeminal and hypoglossal motor neurons is unknown. Using a vertically-mounted isolated brainstem preparation, the Sheep Dip, we identified the regions of the brainstem containing motor nuclei using a solution capable of blocking synaptic release and, following washout, locally exposed these regions to 5 μM NBQX and/or 50 μM AP5. Local application of NBQX significantly reduced the amplitude of buccal and lung bursts on the trigeminal nerve, and lung bursts on the hypoglossal nerve. Local AP5 caused a significant reduction in lung burst amplitude on both nerves, but for buccal bursts, hypoglossal amplitude increased and trigeminal amplitude was unchanged. Local co-application of NBQX and AP5 eliminated fictive respiratory motor output completely in both nerves. These results are consistent with mammalian data, suggesting a critical role for glutamate in transmission of respiratory activity from oscillators to motor neurons.

Effects of olive oil mill waste water (OMWW) on the frog larvae

In this research, acute effect of the olive oil mill wastewater (OMWW) on the frog larvae has been studied. Larvae showed hyperactivity symptoms first and loss of balance and remained motionless due to toxicity of wastewater. Toxicity was observed between 2 and 159 min depending on the test concentrations. Upon removing the phenolic compounds from the OMWW, this effect was seen after 248 min. Potential effects of the OMWW in Lake Iznik were also researched. Salinity of the lake water changed from 0.2 ‰ to 0.0 ‰ respectively in the measurements done in May and December.

The simultaneous presence of neuroepithelial cells and neuroepithelial bodies in the respiratory gas bladder of the longnose gar, Lepisosteus osseus, and the spotted gar, L. oculatus

Anatomical and functional studies on the autonomic innervation as well as the location of airway receptors in the air-bladder of lepisosteids are very fragmentary. These water-breathing fishes share in common with the bichirs the presence of a glottis (not a ductus pneumaticus) opening into the esophagus. In contrast to a high concentration of neuroepithelial cells (NECs) contained in the furrowed epithelium in the lung of Polypterus, these cells are scattered as solitary cells in the glottal epithelium, and grouped to form neuroepithelial bodies (NEBs) in the mucociliated epithelium investing the main trabeculae in the air-bladder of Lepisosteus osseus and L. oculatus. The present immunohistochemical studies also demonstrated the presence of nerve fibers in the trabecular striated musculature and a possible relation to NEBs in these species, and identified immunoreactive elements of this innervation. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), 5-HT and neuropeptide immunoreactivities were detected in the intramural nerve fibers. 5-HT and VIP immunopositive nerve fibers are apparently associated with NEBs. TH, VIP and SP immunoreactivities are also present in nerve fibers coursing in the radially arranged striated muscle surrounding the glottis and its submucosa. 5-HT positive neurons are also found in submucosal and the muscle layers of the glottis. The physiological function of the adrenergic and inhibitory innervation of the striated muscle as well as the neurochemical coding and morphology of the innervation of the NEBs are not known. Future studies are needed to provide evidence for these receptors with the capacity of chemoreceptors and/or mechanoreceptors.

Time domains of the hypoxic ventilatory response in ectothermic vertebrates

Over a decade has passed since Powell et al. (Respir Physiol 112:123-134, 1998) described and defined the time domains of the hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) in adult mammals. These time domains, however, have yet to receive much attention in other vertebrate groups. The initial, acute HVR of fish, amphibians and reptiles serves to minimize the imbalance between oxygen supply and demand. If the hypoxia is sustained, a suite of secondary adjustments occur giving rise to a more long-term balance (acclimatization) that allows the behaviors of normal life. These secondary responses can change over time as a function of the nature of the stimulus (the pattern and intensity of the hypoxic exposure). To add to the complexity of this process, hypoxia can also lead to metabolic suppression (the hypoxic metabolic response) and the magnitude of this is also time dependent. Unlike the original review of Powell et al. (Respir Physiol 112:123-134, 1998) that only considered the HVR in adult animals, we also consider relevant developmental time points where information is available. Finally, in amphibians and reptiles with incompletely divided hearts the magnitude of the ventilatory response will be modulated by hypoxia-induced changes in intra-cardiac shunting that also improve the match between O(2) supply and demand, and these too change in a time-dependent fashion. While the current literature on this topic is reviewed here, it is noted that this area has received little attention. We attempt to redefine time domains in a more 'holistic' fashion that better accommodates research on ectotherms. If we are to distinguish between the genetic, developmental and environmental influences underlying the various ventilatory responses to hypoxia, however, we must design future experiments with time domains in mind.

Onset and early development of hypoxic ventilatory responses and branchial neuroepithelial cells in Xenopus laevis

Onset and ontogeny of the O₂ chemoreceptive control of ventilation was investigated in Xenopus laevis. The density and size of branchial serotonin-immunoreactive neuroepithelial cells (5-HT-IR NECs) were also determined using confocal immunofluorescent microscopy. Larvae started gill ventilation at 3 days post-fertilization (dpf), and, at this early stage, acute hypoxic exposure produced an increase in frequency from 28 ± 4 to 60 ± 2 beats x min⁻¹. Concurrent with the onset of ventilatory responses, 5-HT-IR NECs appeared in the gill filament bud. Lung ventilation began at 5 dpf and exhibited a 3-fold increase in frequency during acute hypoxia. At 10 dpf, gill ventilatory sensitivity to hypoxia increased, as did NEC density, from 15 ± 1 (5 dpf) to 29 ± 2 (10 dpf) cells x mm of filament⁻¹. Unlike ventilation frequency, gill ventilation amplitude and lung expired volume were unaltered by acute hypoxia. Chronic exposure to moderate hypoxia, at a P(O₂) of 110 mmHg, attenuated acute responses to moderate hypoxia at 10 and 14 dpf but had no effect at more severe hypoxia or at other stages. Chronic hypoxia also stimulated 5-HT-IR NECs growth at 21 dpf. Collectively, larvae at 5 dpf exhibited strong O₂-driven gill and lung ventilatory responses, and between 10 and 21 dpf, the early hypoxic responses can be shaped by the ambient P(O₂).

Control of respiration in fish, amphibians and reptiles

Fish and amphibians utilise a suction/force pump to ventilate gills or lungs, with the respiratory muscles innervated by cranial nerves, while reptiles have a thoracic, aspiratory pump innervated by spinal nerves. However, fish can recruit a hypobranchial pump for active jaw occlusion during hypoxia, using feeding muscles innervated by anterior spinal nerves. This same pump is used to ventilate the air-breathing organ in air-breathing fishes. Some reptiles retain a buccal force pump for use during hypoxia or exercise. All vertebrates have respiratory rhythm generators (RRG) located in the brainstem. In cyclostomes and possibly jawed fishes, this may comprise elements of the trigeminal nucleus, though in the latter group RRG neurons have been located in the reticular formation. In air-breathing fishes and amphibians, there may be separate RRG for gill and lung ventilation. There is some evidence for multiple RRG in reptiles. Both amphibians and reptiles show episodic breathing patterns that may be centrally generated, though they do respond to changes in oxygen supply. Fish and larval amphibians have chemoreceptors sensitive to oxygen partial pressure located on the gills. Hypoxia induces increased ventilation and a reflex bradycardia and may trigger aquatic surface respiration or air-breathing, though these latter activities also respond to behavioural cues. Adult amphibians and reptiles have peripheral chemoreceptors located on the carotid arteries and central chemoreceptors sensitive to blood carbon dioxide levels. Lung perfusion may be regulated by cardiac shunting and lung ventilation stimulates lung stretch receptors.

The physical movement of urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder and bladder compliance in two anurans

Urine movement from the ureters to the bladder was accomplished by a combination of gravity and pressures resulting from lung inflation, buccal pumping, and smooth-muscle contraction. Urine movement from the cloaca to the urinary bladder was the result of pressure generated by cloacal smooth-muscle contraction and opposed by urinary bladder pressure, resulting from compliance, lung inflation, and buccal movements. The frequency of cloacal smooth-muscle contraction measured in Chaunus marinus (4.9 min(-1)) and Lithobates grylio (2.8 min(-1)) generated cloacal pressures that averaged 0.67 and 0.59 kPa, respectively. Chaunus marinus had a mean internal bladder pressure of 0.29 kPa, while Lithobates catesbeiana had a mean internal bladder pressure of 0.16 kPa. Using direct urinary bladder infusion and physiological pressure transducers on live anurans, it was determined that urinary bladder compliance was lower (P < 0.05) in the aquatic frog L. grylio (2,050 mL kPa(-1) kg(-1)) than in the terrestrial toad C. marinus (4,440 mL kPa(-1) kg(-1)). Taken together, these data suggest that bladder filling is a result of pressures generated in the ureters and the cloaca that are greater than internal bladder pressures and that the more aquatic species had a less compliant urinary bladder compared with that of the terrestrial species.

Asymmetric control of inspiratory and expiratory phases by excitability in the respiratory network of neonatal mice in vitro

Rhythmic motor behaviours consist of alternating movements, e.g. swing-stance in stepping, jaw opening and closing during chewing, and inspiration-expiration in breathing, which must be labile in frequency, and in some cases, in the duration of individual phases, to adjust to physiological demands. These movements are the expression of underlying neural circuits whose organization governs the properties of the motor behaviour. To determine if the ability to operate over a broad range of frequencies in respiration is expressed in the rhythm generator, we isolated the kernel of essential respiratory circuits using rhythmically active in vitro slices from neonatal mice. We show respiratory motor output in these slices at very low frequencies (0.008 Hz), well below the typical frequency in vitro (approximately 0.2 Hz) and in most intact normothermic mammals. Across this broad range of frequencies, inspiratory motor output bursts remained remarkably constant in pattern, i.e. duration, peak amplitude and area. The change in frequency was instead attributable to increased interburst interval, and was largely unaffected by removal of fast inhibitory transmission. Modulation of the frequency was primarily achieved by manipulating extracellular potassium, which significantly affects neuronal excitability. When excitability was lowered to slow down, or in some cases stop, spontaneous rhythm, brief stimulation of the respiratory network with a glutamatergic agonist could evoke (rhythmic) motor output. In slices with slow (<0.02 Hz) spontaneous rhythms, evoked motor output could follow a spontaneous burst at short (<or=1 s) or long (approximately 60 s) intervals. The intensity or timing of stimulation determined the latency to the first evoked burst, with no evidence for a refractory period greater than approximately 1 s, even with interburst intervals >60 s. We observed during inspiration a large magnitude (approximately 0.6 nA) outward current generated by Na(+)/K(+) ATPase that deactivated in 25-100 ms and thus could contribute to burst termination and the latency of evoked bursts but is unlikely to control the interburst interval. We propose that the respiratory network functions over a broad range of frequencies by engaging distinct mechanisms from those controlling inspiratory duration and pattern that specifically govern the interburst interval.

Transcription factors and the genetic organization of brain stem respiratory neurons

Breathing is a genetically determined behavior generated by neurons in the brain stem. Transcription factors, in part, determine the basic developmental identity of neurons, but the relationships between these genes and the neural populations generating and modulating respiration are unclear. The diversity of brain stem populations has been proposed to result from a combinatorial code of transcription factor expression corresponding to the anterior-posterior (A-P) and dorsal-ventral (D-V) location of a neuron's birth. I provide a schematic of transcription factor coding identifying at least 15 genetically distinct D-V subdivisions of brain stem neurons that, combined with A-P patterning, may provide a genetic organization of the brain stem in general, with the eventual goal of describing respiratory populations in particular. Using a combination of fate mapping in transgenic mouse lines and immunohistochemistry, we confirm the parabrachial nuclei are derived from a subset of Atoh1 expression progenitor neurons. I hypothesize the Kölliker-Fuse nucleus can be uniquely defined in the neonate mouse by the coexpression of the transcription factor FoxP2 in Atoh1-derived neurons of rhombomere 1.

Lung ventilation contributes to vertical lymph movement in anurans

Anurans (frogs and toads) generate lymphatic fluid at 10 times the rate in mammals, largely as a consequence of their very `leaky' vasculature and high interstitial compliance. Lymph is ultimately pumped into the venous system by paired, dorsally located lymph hearts. At present, it is unclear how lymphatic fluid that accumulates in central body subcutaneous lymph sacs is moved to the anterior and posterior lymph hearts in the axillary regions and how lymph is moved, against gravity, to the dorsally located lymph hearts. In this study,we tested the hypothesis that lung ventilation, through its consequent effects on lymph sac pressure, contributes to the vertical movement of lymphatic fluid in the cane toad (Chaunus marinus) and the North American bullfrog(Lithobates catesbeiana). We measured pressure in the dorsal, lateral and subvertebral lymph sacs of anesthetized cane toads and bullfrogs during artificial lung inflation and deflation. We also measured pressure in the subvertebral lymph sac, which adheres to the dorsal surface of the lungs,simultaneously with brachial (forelimb) and pubic (posterior) sac pressure during ventilation in freely behaving animals. There were highly significant(P&lt;0.001) relationships between lung pressure and lymph sac pressures (r2=0.19–0.72), indicating that pulmonary pressure is transmitted to the highly compliant lymph sacs that surround the lungs. Subvertebral sac pressure of resting animals was not significantly different between L. catesbeiana (518±282 Pa) and C. marinus (459±111 Pa). Brachial sac compliance (ml kPa–1 kg–1) also did not differ between the two species (33.6±5.0 in L. catesbeiana and 37.0±9.4 in C. marinus). During expiration (lung deflation), reductions in expanding subvertebral sac pressure are communicated to the brachial lymph sac. Changes in brachial and pubic lymph sac pressures were correlated almost entirely during expiration rather than inspiration. The change in brachial sac pressure during expiration was 235±43 Pa for C. marinus and 215±50 Pa for L. catesbeiana, which is of sufficient magnitude to move lymph the estimated 0.5–1.0 cm vertical distance from the forelimb to the vicinity of the anterior lymph hearts. We suggest that lymph is moved during expiration to the subvertebral sac from anterior and posterior lymph sacs. During lung inflation, increased lymph sac pressure moves lymph to axillary regions, where lymph hearts can return lymph to the vascular space. Consequently, pulmonary ventilation has an important role for lymph movement and, hence, blood volume regulation in anurans.

Comparative biochemistry and physiology in Latin America over the last decade (1997–2006)

We investigate the distribution of Latin American comparative biochemistry and physiology across subject areas and systematic groups. Our study focuses on papers published over the last decade (1997-2006) in four leading topical journals. Brazil dominates the production of papers, followed by Argentina, Mexico and Chile, which together account for 91% of the production in numbers. These countries differ in a number of variables that we discuss in the text. Questions regarding the physiology of wild animals are particularly common, but comparative approaches to study practical issues are also well represented throughout the continent. The most frequent topics in the latter context include the action of snake venoms, the physiology of pathogens and their hosts, and the physiology of domestic or cultured species. The subjects of metabolism, thermoregulation and digestive physiology constitute 40% of the contributions in the database. Regarding systematic groups, most attention has been devoted to vertebrates, mostly anuran amphibians. Other highlighted groups are octodontid rodents, phocid mammals and characid fish. Among invertebrates, malacostracan decapods are by far the best studied group. Many taxa of wild animals are represented by just one or a few studies, thus limited information is available about a large number of Latin American species.