1
|
Saunders SE, Santin JM. Activation of respiratory-related bursting in an isolated medullary section from adult bullfrogs. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb245951. [PMID: 37665261 PMCID: PMC10546875 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Breathing is generated by a rhythmic neural circuit in the brainstem, which contains conserved elements across vertebrate groups. In adult frogs, the 'lung area' located in the reticularis parvocellularis is thought to represent the core rhythm generator for breathing. Although this region is necessary for breathing-related motor output, whether it functions as an endogenous oscillator when isolated from other brainstem centers is not clear. Therefore, we generated thick brainstem sections that encompass the lung area to determine whether it can generate breathing-related motor output in a highly reduced preparation. Brainstem sections did not produce activity. However, subsaturating block of glycine receptors reliably led to the emergence of rhythmic motor output that was further enhanced by blockade of GABAA receptors. Output occurred in singlets and multi-burst episodes resembling the intact network. However, burst frequency was slower and individual bursts had longer durations than those produced by the intact preparation. In addition, burst frequency was reduced by noradrenaline and μ-opioids, and increased by serotonin, as observed in the intact network and in vivo. These results suggest that the lung area can be activated to produce rhythmic respiratory-related motor output in a reduced brainstem section and provide new insights into respiratory rhythm generation in adult amphibians. First, clustering breaths into episodes can occur within the rhythm-generating network without long-range input from structures such as the pons. Second, local inhibition near, or within, the rhythmogenic center may need to be overridden to express the respiratory rhythm.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandy E. Saunders
- Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Joseph M. Santin
- Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zubov T, Silika S, Dukkipati SS, Hartzler LK, Santin JM. Characterization of laryngeal motor neuron properties in the American bullfrog, Lithobates catesbieanus. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2021; 294:103745. [PMID: 34298168 DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2021.103745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Motor neurons represent the final output from the central respiratory network. American bullfrogs, Lithobates catesbieanus, have provided insight into development and plasticity of the breathing control system, yet cellular aspects of bullfrog motor neurons are not well-described. In this study, we characterized properties of laryngeal motor neurons that produce motor outflow to the glottal dilator, a muscle that gates airflow to the lungs of anurans. To this end, we measured several intrinsic membrane properties of labeled laryngeal motor neurons in brain slices. Using unsupervised clustering analyses, we identified two broad classes of motor neurons: those with high firing rates and strong adaptation (∼70 %), and those with lower firing rates and less adaptation (∼30 %). These results suggest that two neuronal cell types innervate the glottal dilator, roughly aligning with the composition of fast and slower twitch fibers of this muscle. In sum, these data reinforce the need to consider cell-type when assessing motor neuron function in the respiratory network.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Zubov
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Biology, United States
| | - Sara Silika
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Biology, United States
| | | | - Lynn K Hartzler
- Wright State University of Department of Biological Sciences, United States
| | - Joseph M Santin
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Biology, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Is there a common drive for buccal movements associated with buccal and lung 'breath' in Lithobates catesbeianus? Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2020; 275:103382. [PMID: 31926342 DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2020.103382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In amphibians, there is some evidence that (1) anatomically separate brainstem respiratory oscillators are involved in rhythm generation, one for the buccal rhythm and another for the lung rhythm and (2) they become functionally coupled during metamorphosis. The present analysis, performed on neurograms recorded using brainstem preparations from Lithobates catesbeianus, aims to investigate the temporal organisation of lung and buccal burst types. Continuous Wavelet Transfom applied to the separated buccal and lung signals of a neurogram revealed that both buccal and lung frequency profiles exhibited the same low frequency peak around 1 Hz. This suggests that a common 'clock' organises both rhythms within an animal. A cross-correlation analysis applied to the buccal and lung burst signals revealed their similar intrinsic oscillation features, occurring at approximately 25 Hz. These observations suggest that a coupling between the lung and buccal oscillators emerges at metamorphosis. This coupling may be related to inter-connectivity between the two oscillators, and to a putative common drive.
Collapse
|
4
|
Janes TA, Rousseau JP, Fournier S, Kiernan EA, Harris MB, Taylor BE, Kinkead R. Development of central respiratory control in anurans: The role of neurochemicals in the emergence of air-breathing and the hypoxic response. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2019; 270:103266. [PMID: 31408738 PMCID: PMC7476778 DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2019.103266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tara A Janes
- Department of Pediatrics, Université Laval & Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Jean-Philippe Rousseau
- Department of Pediatrics, Université Laval & Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Stéphanie Fournier
- Department of Pediatrics, Université Laval & Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Elizabeth A Kiernan
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison Wisconsin, USA
| | - Michael B Harris
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, California, USA
| | - Barbara E Taylor
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, California, USA
| | - Richard Kinkead
- Department of Pediatrics, Université Laval & Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, QC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Santin JM. How important is the CO 2 chemoreflex for the control of breathing? Environmental and evolutionary considerations. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2017; 215:6-19. [PMID: 28966145 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2017.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Haldane and Priestley (1905) discovered that the ventilatory control system is highly sensitive to CO2. This "CO2 chemoreflex" has been interpreted to dominate control of resting arterial PCO2/pH (PaCO2/pHa) by monitoring PaCO2/pHa and altering ventilation through negative feedback. However, PaCO2/pHa varies little in mammals as ventilation tightly couples to metabolic demands, which may minimize chemoreflex control of PaCO2. The purpose of this synthesis is to (1) interpret data from experimental models with meager CO2 chemoreflexes to infer their role in ventilatory control of steady-state PaCO2, and (2) identify physiological causes of respiratory acidosis occurring normally across vertebrate classes. Interestingly, multiple rodent and amphibian models with minimal/absent CO2 chemoreflexes exhibit normal ventilation, gas exchange, and PaCO2/pHa. The chemoreflex, therefore, plays at most a minor role in ventilatory control at rest; however, the chemoreflex may be critical for recovering PaCO2 following acute respiratory acidosis induced by breath-holding and activity in many ectothermic vertebrates. An apparently small role for CO2 feedback in the genesis of normal breathing contradicts the prevailing view that central CO2/pH chemoreceptors increased in importance throughout vertebrate evolution. Since the CO2 chemoreflex contributes minimally to resting ventilation, these CO2 chemoreceptors may have instead decreased importance throughout tetrapod evolution, particularly with the onset and refinement of neural innovations that improved the matching of ventilation to tissue metabolic demands. This distinct and elusive "metabolic ventilatory drive" likely underlies steady-state PaCO2 in air-breathers. Uncovering the mechanisms and evolution of the metabolic ventilatory drive presents a challenge to clinically-oriented and comparative respiratory physiologists alike.
Collapse
|
6
|
Wilson RJA. Prelude Special Issue: Control of breathing in non-mammalian vertebrates. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2016; 224:1. [PMID: 26972021 DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2016.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Richard J A Wilson
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Santin JM, Hartzler LK. Environmentally induced return to juvenile-like chemosensitivity in the respiratory control system of adult bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus. J Physiol 2016; 594:6349-6367. [PMID: 27444338 DOI: 10.1113/jp272777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M Santin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH, 45435, USA. .,Biomedical Sciences PhD Program, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH, 45435, USA.
| | - Lynn K Hartzler
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH, 45435, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Santin JM, Hartzler LK. Control of lung ventilation following overwintering conditions in bullfrogs, Lithobates catesbeianus. J Exp Biol 2016; 219:2003-14. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.136259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Ranid frogs in northern latitudes survive winter at cold temperatures in aquatic habitats often completely covered by ice. Cold-submerged frogs survive aerobically for several months relying exclusively on cutaneous gas exchange while maintaining temperature-specific acid-base balance. Depending on the overwintering hibernaculum, frogs in northern latitudes could spend several months without access to air, need to breathe, or chemosensory drive to use neuromuscular processes that regulate and enable pulmonary ventilation. Therefore, we performed experiments to determine whether aspects of the respiratory control system of bullfrogs, Lithobates catesbeianus, are maintained or suppressed following minimal use of air breathing in overwintering environments. Based on the necessity for control of lung ventilation in early spring, we hypothesized that critical components of the respiratory control system of bullfrogs would be functional following simulated overwintering. We found that bullfrogs recently removed from simulated overwintering environments exhibited similar resting ventilation when assessed at 24°C compared to warm-acclimated control bullfrogs. Additionally, ventilation met resting metabolic and, presumably, acid-base regulation requirements, indicating preservation of basal respiratory function despite prolonged disuse in the cold. Recently emerged bullfrogs underwent similar increases in ventilation during acute oxygen lack (aerial hypoxia) compared to warm-acclimated frogs; however, CO2-related hyperventilation was significantly blunted following overwintering. Overcoming challenges to gas exchange during overwintering have garnered attention in ectothermic vertebrates, but this study uncovers robust and labile aspects of the respiratory control system at a time point correlating with early spring following minimal/no use of lung breathing in cold-aquatic overwintering habitats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M. Santin
- Wright State University, Department of Biological Sciences, 3640 Colonel Glenn. Hwy. Dayton, OH 45435, USA
- Wright State University, Biomedical Sciences PhD Program, 3640 Colonel Glenn. Hwy. Dayton, OH 45435, USA
| | - Lynn K. Hartzler
- Wright State University, Department of Biological Sciences, 3640 Colonel Glenn. Hwy. Dayton, OH 45435, USA
| |
Collapse
|