Orexinergic neurotransmission in locus coeruleus: participation in the ventilatory response to hypercapnia during wake/sleep cycle under dark and light periods

• Grant number: 14/00330-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: July 01, 2014
• End date: August 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Luciane Helena Gargaglioni Batalhão
• Grantee: Mariane Cristine Vicente
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Locus Coeruleus (LC) is a noradrenergic nucleus of the brainstem that modulates several physiological and behavioral functions, as well as being involved in pathological conditions such as panic disorder, Rett syndrome, sudden infant death syndrome, which are characterized by changes in chemosensitivity to CO2/pH. LC noradrenergic neurons play an important role in hypercanic ventilatory response and many neurotransmitters and also gap junctions are involved in this modulation. Orexins or hypocretins are important neurotransmitters that control sleep-wake states and CO2 chemosensitivity. Noradrenergic neurons in the LC are particularly important for mediating the effects of hypocretin neurons on arousal. However, it remains unknown the role of orexinergic neurotransmission in the LC in the CO2-drive to breath. Therefore, we will test the hypothesis that orexinergic projections to the LC participate in hypercapnic ventilatory response and this response is dependent on sleep wake cycle. Therefore, we will injected SB-334867 into the LC of male Wistar rats and CO2 ventilatory response will be evaluated during wake and sleep cycle under light and dark phase. (AU)