Role of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) on the ventilatory responses to hypercapnia
| Grant number: | 11/23339-8 |
| Support type: | Regular Research Grants |
| Duration: | April 01, 2012 - March 31, 2014 |
| Field of knowledge: | Biological Sciences - Physiology |
| Principal Investigator: | Luiz Guilherme de Siqueira Branco |
| Grantee: | Luiz Guilherme de Siqueira Branco |
| Home Institution: | Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto (FORP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil |
Abstract
Hypoxia triggers a number of responses, including increased pulmonary ventilation (VE) and a regulated drop in body temperature (Tc). Previous studies indicate that hypoxia-induced hyperventilation depends on the peripheral chemoreceptors and the sub-region of the commissural nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). Several studies suggest that from NTS different pontine, bulbar and diencephalon areas are involved in the processing of the responses to activation of the chemoreceptors, including the anterior hypothalamus. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), recently described as the third member of the gaseous neurotransmitters is produced endogenously by metabolic pathways with predominant participation of two enzymes: cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE). In the carotid corpuscle it has been recently described the participation of CBS and CSE isoforms to generate H2S in response to hypoxia. Since the enzymes responsible for synthesis of H2S are present in the CNS and it has not been described the effect of H2S in the central ventilatory responses tohypoxia is importance to study the central mechanisms by which H2S involved in breathing control, never described before. Based on the above, this project aims to study the role of H2S in the ventilatory and thermoregulatory responses to hypoxia. (AU)