Regulation of ventral surface CO2/H+-sensitive neurons by purinergic signalling in newborn rats

• Grant number: 13/02350-9
• Support type: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal researcher: Thiago dos Santos Moreira
• Grantee: Cleyton Roberto Sobrinho
• Supervisor abroad: Daniel Kent Mulkey
• Home Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Research place: University of Connecticut (UCONN), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 11/13462-7 - The interaction between retrotrapezoid nucleus astrocytes and neurons on respiratory responses promoted by central chemoreflex activation, BP.DR

Abstract

Central chemoreception is the mechanism by which the brain regulates breathing in response to changes in tissue CO2/H+. A brainstem region called the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) contains a population of CO2/H+-sensitive neurons that appears to function as an important chemoreceptor. Evidence also indicates that CO2-evoked ATP release from RTN astrocytes modulates activity of CO2/H+-sensitive neurons; however, the extent to which purinergic signalling contributes to chemoreception by RTN neurons is not clear and the mechanism(s) underlying CO2/H+-evoked ATP release is not fully elucidated. Additionally, recent study in the literature showed that the response of RTN neurons to hypercapnia is not mediated by ATP in newborn rats. However, it appears to be some controversy in the literature regarding the purinergic signaling, the activity of RTN neurons, the neuron-glia interaction and respiratory control during development and maturation of the central nervous system (CNS). Based on the assumption described above, the present project aims to elucidate the role of purinergic signaling in glia-neuron interactions in the RTN region of newborn rats at different stages of development. More specifically, we will evaluate the electrical activity of RTN neurons through in vitro recordings from newborn animals (P0, P2, P4, P7 and P10 days. Depending on the results, we will expand our knowledge of electrophysiology of the RTN chemosensitive neurons. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MOREIRA, THIAGO S.; WENKER, IAN C.; SOBRINHO, CLEYTON R.; BARNA, BARBARA F.; TAKAKURA, ANA C.; MULKEY, DANIEL K. Independent purinergic mechanisms of central and peripheral chemoreception in the rostral ventrolateral medulla. JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON, v. 593, n. 5, p. 1067-1074, MAR 1 2015. Web of Science Citations: 6.