Effect of Gender on Chronic Intermittent Hypoxic Fosb Expression in Cardiorespiratory-Related Brain Structures in Mice

KCNK3 channel is important for the ventilatory response to hypoxia in rats

To clarify the contribution of KCNK3/TASK-1 channel chemoreflex in response to hypoxia and hypercapnia, we used a unique Kcnk3-deficient rat. We assessed ventilatory variables using plethysmography in Kcnk3-deficient and wild-type rats at rest in response to hypoxia (10% O2) and hypercapnia (4% CO2). Immunostaining for C-Fos, a marker of neuronal activity, was performed to identify the regions of the respiratory neuronal network involved in the observed response.Under basal conditions, we observed increased minute ventilation in Kcnk3-deficient rats, which was associated with increased c-Fos positive cells in the ventrolateral region of the medulla oblongata. Kcnk3-deficient rats show an increase in ventilatory response to hypoxia without changes in response to hypercapnia. In Kcnk3-deficient rats, linked to an increased hypoxia response, we observed a greater increase in c-Fos-positive cells in the first central relay of peripheral chemoreceptors and Raphe Obscurus. This study reports that KCNK3/TASK-1 deficiency in rats induces an inadequate peripheral chemoreflex, alternating respiratory rhythmogenesis, and hypoxic chemoreflex.

Chronic pulmonary fibrosis alters the functioning of the respiratory neural network

Some patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis present impaired ventilatory variables characterised by low forced vital capacity values associated with an increase in respiratory rate and a decrease in tidal volume which could be related to the increased pulmonary stiffness. The lung stiffness observed in pulmonary fibrosis may also have an effect on the functioning of the brainstem respiratory neural network, which could ultimately reinforce or accentuate ventilatory alterations. To this end, we sought to uncover the consequences of pulmonary fibrosis on ventilatory variables and how the modification of pulmonary rigidity could influence the functioning of the respiratory neuronal network. In a mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis obtained by 6 repeated intratracheal instillations of bleomycin (BLM), we first observed an increase in minute ventilation characterised by an increase in respiratory rate and tidal volume, a desaturation and a decrease in lung compliance. The changes in these ventilatory variables were correlated with the severity of the lung injury. The impact of lung fibrosis was also evaluated on the functioning of the medullary areas involved in the elaboration of the central respiratory drive. Thus, BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis led to a change in the long-term activity of the medullary neuronal respiratory network, especially at the level of the nucleus of the solitary tract, the first central relay of the peripheral afferents, and the Pre-Bötzinger complex, the inspiratory rhythm generator. Our results showed that pulmonary fibrosis induced modifications not only of pulmonary architecture but also of central control of the respiratory neural network.

Whole-Brain Monosynaptic Afferents to Rostromedial Tegmental Nucleus Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid-Releasing Neurons in Mice

Increasing evidence has revealed that the rostromedial tegmental area (RMTg) mediates many behaviors, including sleep and addiction. However, presynaptic patterns governing the activity of γ-aminobutyric acid-releasing (GABAergic) neurons, the main neuronal type in the RMTg, have not been defined. Here, we used cell-type-specific retrograde trans-synaptic rabies viruses to map and quantify the monosynaptic afferents to RMTg GABAergic neurons in mouse whole brains. We identified 71 ascending projection brain regions. Sixty-eight percent of the input neurons arise from the ipsilateral and 32% from the contralateral areas of the brain. The first three strongest projection regions were the ipsilateral lateral hypothalamus, zone incerta, and contralateral pontine reticular nucleus. Immunohistochemistry imaging showed that the input neurons in the dorsal raphe, laterodorsal tegmentum, and dorsal part of zone incerta were colocalized with serotoninergic, cholinergic, and neuronal nitric oxide synthetase-expressing neurons, respectively. However, in the lateral hypothalamus, a few input neurons innervating RMTg GABAergic neurons colocalized orexinergic neurons but lacked colocalization of melanin-concentrating hormone neurons. Our findings provide anatomical evidence to understand how RMTg GABAergic neurons integrate diverse information to exert varied functions.

Age-Dependent FOSB/ΔFOSB Response to Acute and Chronic Stress in the Extended Amygdala, Hypothalamic Paraventricular, Habenular, Centrally-Projecting Edinger-Westphal, and Dorsal Raphe Nuclei in Male Rats

FOS proteins are early-responding gene products that contribute to the formation of activator protein-1. Several acute and chronic stimuli lead to Fos gene expression, accompanied by an increase of nuclear FOS, which appears to decline with aging. FOSB is another marker to detect acute cellular response, while ΔFOSB mirrors long-lasting changes in neuronal activity upon chronic stress. The notion that the occurrence of stress-related mood disorders shows some age dependence suggests that the brain's stress sensitivity is also a function of age. To study age-dependent stress vulnerability at the immediate-early gene level, we aimed to describe how the course of aging affects the neural responses of FOSB/ΔFOSB in the acute restraint stress (ARS), and chronic variable mild stress (CVMS) in male rats. Fourteen brain areas [central, medial, basolateral (BLA) amygdala; dorsolateral- (BNSTdl), oval- (BNSTov), dorsomedial-, ventral- (BNSTv), and fusiform- (BNSTfu) divisions of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis; medial and lateral habenula, hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), centrally-projecting Edinger-Westphal nucleus, dorsal raphe nucleus, barrel field of somatosensory cortex (S1)] were examined in the course of aging. Eight age groups [1-month-old (M), 1.5 M, 2 M, 3 M, 6 M, 12 M, 18 M, and 24 M] of rats were exposed to a single ARS vs. controls. In addition, rats in six age groups (2, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 M) were subjected to CVMS. The FOSB/ΔFOSB immunoreactivity (IR) was a function of age in both controls, ARS- and CVMS-exposed rats. ARS increased the FOSB/ΔFOSB in all nuclei (except in BLA), but only BNSTfu, BNSTv, and PVN reacted throughout the examined lifespan. The CVMS did not increase the FOSB/ΔFOSB in BLA, BNSTov, BNSTdl, and S1. PVN showed a constantly maintained FOSB/ΔFOSB IR during the examined life period. The maximum stress-evoked FOSB/ΔFOSB signal was detected at 2-3 M periods in the ARS- and at 6 M, 18 M in CVMS- model. Corresponding to our previous observations on FOS, the FOSB/ΔFOSB response to stress decreased with age in most of the examined nuclei. Only the PVN exerted a sustained age-independent FOSB/ΔFOSB, which may reflect the long-lasting adaptation response and plasticity of neurons that maintain the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis response throughout the lifespan.

Daily acute intermittent hypoxia enhances serotonergic innervation of hypoglossal motor nuclei in rats with and without cervical spinal injury

Intermittent hypoxia elicits protocol-dependent effects on hypoglossal (XII) motor plasticity. Whereas low-dose, acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) elicits serotonin-dependent plasticity in XII motor neurons, high-dose, chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) elicits neuroinflammation that undermines AIH-induced plasticity. Preconditioning with repeated AIH and mild CIH enhance AIH-induced XII motor plasticity. Since intermittent hypoxia pre-conditioning could enhance serotonin-dependent XII motor plasticity by increasing serotonergic innervation density of the XII motor nuclei, we tested the hypothesis that 3 distinct intermittent hypoxia protocols commonly studied to elicit plasticity (AIH) or simulate aspects of sleep apnea (CIH) differentially affect XII serotonergic innervation. Sleep apnea and associated CIH are common in people with cervical spinal injuries and, since repetitive AIH is emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy to improve respiratory and non-respiratory motor function after spinal injury, we also tested the hypotheses that XII serotonergic innervation is increased by repetitive AIH and/or CIH in rats with cervical C2 hemisections (C2Hx). Serotonergic innervation was assessed via immunofluorescence in male Sprague Dawley rats, with and without C2Hx (beginning 8 weeks post-injury) exposed to 28 days of: 1) normoxia; 2) daily AIH (10, 5-min 10.5% O2 episodes per day; 5-min normoxic intervals); 3) mild CIH (5-min 10.5% O2 episodes; 5-min intervals; 8 h/day); and 4) moderate CIH (2-min 10.5% O2 episodes; 2-min intervals; 8 h/day). Daily AIH, but neither CIH protocol, increased the area of serotonergic immunolabeling in the XII motor nuclei in both intact and injured rats. C2Hx per se had no effect on XII serotonergic innervation density. Thus, daily AIH may increases XII serotonergic innervation and function, enhancing the capacity for serotonin-dependent, AIH-induced plasticity in upper airway motor neurons. Such effects may preserve upper airway patency and/or swallowing ability in people with cervical spinal cord injuries and other clinical disorders that compromise breathing and airway defense.

Sex-specific vagal and spinal modulation of breathing with chest compression

Lung volume is modulated by sensory afferent feedback via vagal and spinal pathways. The purpose of this study was to systematically alter afferent feedback with and without a mechanical challenge (chest compression). We hypothesized that manipulation of afferent feedback by nebulization of lidocaine, extra-thoracic vagotomy, or lidocaine administration to the pleural space would produce differential effects on the motor pattern of breathing during chest compression in sodium pentobarbital anesthetized rats (N = 43). Our results suggest that: 1) pulmonary stretch receptors are not the sole contributor to breathing feedback in adult male and female rats; 2) of our manipulations, chest compression had the largest effect on early expiratory diaphragm activity (“yield”); 3) reduction of spinally-mediated afferent feedback modulates breathing patterns most likely via inhibition; and 4) breathing parameters demonstrate large sex differences. Compared to males, female animals had lower respiratory rates (RR), which were further depressed by vagotomy, while chest compression increased RR in males, and decreased yield in females without changing RR. Collectively, our results suggest that balance between tonic vagal inhibition and spinal afferent feedback maintains breathing characteristics, and that it is important to specifically evaluate sex differences when studying control of breathing.

Sex-specific vagal and spinal modulation of swallow and its coordination with breathing

Swallow-breathing coordination is influenced by changes in lung volume, which is modulated by feedback from both vagal and spinal sensory afferents. The purpose of this study was to manipulate feedback from these afferents, with and without a simultaneous mechanical challenge (chest compression), in order to assess the influence of each sensory pathway on swallow in rats. We hypothesized that manipulation of afferent feedback would shift the occurrence of swallow toward the inspiratory phase of breathing. Afferent feedback was perturbed by lidocaine nebulization, extra-thoracic vagotomy, or lidocaine administration to the pleural space in sodium pentobarbital anesthetized rats (N = 43). These different afferent perturbations were performed both in control conditions (no chest compression), and with chest compression. Manipulating pulmonary stretch receptor-mediated volume feedback in male animals decreased swallow occurrence. Female rats appear to rely more on spinal afferent feedback, as swallow occurrence shifted to late expiration with chest compression and vagotomy or lidocaine injections. Results suggest that sex-specific mechanisms modulate swallow-breathing coordination, and that vagal feedback is inhibitory to swallow-related muscles, while spinal feedback from pleural afferents has excitatory effects. This study supports the theory that a balance of vagal and spinal afferent feedback is necessary to maintain an optimal swallow pattern and swallow-breathing coordination.

Progesterone decreases apnoea and reduces oxidative stress induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia in ovariectomized female rats

NEW FINDINGS

What is the central question of this study? Does progesterone reduce the effect of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) on arterial blood pressure, respiratory control and oxidative stress in the central nervous system in ovariectomized rats? What is the main finding and its importance? Progesterone does not prevent the elevation of arterial blood pressure in rats exposed to CIH, but normalizes respiratory control, and reduces cerebral oxidative stress. This study draws focus to a potential role of progesterone and the consequences of sleep apnoea in menopausal women.

ABSTRACT

We tested the hypothesis that progesterone (Prog) reduces the effect of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) on arterial blood pressure, respiratory chemoreflexes and oxidative stress in the central nervous system. Ovariectomized female rats were implanted with osmotic pumps delivering vehicle (Veh) or Prog (4 mg kg^-1  day^-1 ). Two weeks following the surgery, rats were exposed to room air (Air) or CIH (7 days, 10% O₂ , 10 cycles h^-1 , 8 h day^-1 ). We studied three groups: Veh-Air, Veh-CIH and Prog-CIH. After the CIH exposures, we measured the mean arterial pressure (MAP; tail cuff) and assessed the frequency of apnoeas at rest and ventilatory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia (whole body plethysmography). The activities of the pro-oxidant enzyme NADPH oxidase (NOX) and antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD; in mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), as well as the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation, were measured in brain cortex and brainstem samples. CIH exposure increased the MAP, the frequency of apnoeas, and the respiratory frequency response to hypoxia and hypercapnia. Prog did not prevent the CIH-induced elevation in MAP, but it reduced the CIH-induced frequency of apnoeas and increased hypoxic and hypercapnic ventilatory responses. In the brain cortex, CIH increased NOX activity, and decreased the cytosolic and mitochondrial SOD activities. These effects were prevented by Prog. NOX activity was increased by CIH in the brainstem, and this was also blocked by Prog. The study draws focus to the links between ovarian hormones and the consequences of sleep apnoea in women.

Sex and age differentially affect GABAergic neurons in the mouse prefrontal cortex and hippocampus following chronic intermittent hypoxia

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a chronic sleep disorder characterized by repetitive reduction or cessation of airflow during sleep, is widely prevalent and is associated with adverse neurocognitive sequelae including increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In humans, OSA is more common in elderly males. OSA is characterized by sleep fragmentation and chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), and recent epidemiological studies point to CIH as the best predictor of neurocognitive sequelae associated with OSA. The sex- and age- specific effects of OSA-associated CIH on specific cell populations such as γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic neurons in the hippocampus and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), regions important for cognitive function, remain largely unknown. The present study examined the effect of 35 days of either moderate (10% oxygen) or severe (5% oxygen) CIH on GABAergic neurons in the mPFC and hippocampus of young and aged male and female mice as well as post-accelerated ovarian failure (AOF) female mice. In the mPFC and hippocampus, the number of GABA-labeled neurons increased in aged and young severe CIH males compared to controls but not in young moderate CIH males. This change was not representative of the individual GABAergic cell subpopulations, as the number of parvalbumin-labeled neurons decreased while the number of somatostatin-labeled neurons increased in the hippocampus of severe CIH young males only. In all female groups, the number of GABA-labeled cells was not different between CIH and controls. However, in the mPFC, CIH increased the number of parvalbumin-labeled neurons in young females and the number of somatostatin-labeled cells in AOF females but decreased the number of somatostatin-labeled cells in aged females. In the hippocampus, CIH decreased the number of somatostatin-labeled neurons in young females. CIH decreased the density of vesicular GABA transporter in the mPFC of AOF females only. These findings suggest sex-specific changes in GABAergic neurons in the hippocampus and mPFC with males showing an increase of this cell population as compared to their female counterparts following CIH. Age at exposure and severity of CIH also differentially affect the GABAergic cell population in mice.