Characterization and function of peritrigeminal (Peri5) neurons on breathing regulation

• Grant number: 15/00033-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: November 01, 2015
• End date: October 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Luciane Helena Gargaglioni Batalhão
• Grantee: Luciane Helena Gargaglioni Batalhão
• Host Investigator: Gilles Fortin
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Institut de Neurobiologie Alfred Fessard (INAF), France

Abstract

In mammals, gas exchange during uterine life is performed via placenta, however, neural and muscle components of the respiratory system must be functional at birth, allowing the generation of a rhythm that ensure an adequate pulmonary ventilation. A neuronal circuit in the brainstem generates the respiratory rhythm and shapes the motor pattern of each breath to meet metabolic, biomechanical and behavioral goals. However, how this is achieved and what are the mechanisms involved in the generation of respiratory rhythm and pattern are not fully resolved, despite great progress made in the last 10 years. Recently, the group of Professor Gilles Fortin (CNRS, France) observed in genetic backgrounds that deletion of a small population of neurons of unknown function around the trigeminal motor nucleus (around 3000 cells per animal in the mouse), death ensues at birth from respiratory causes, suggesting that these neurons represent a hitherto unrecognized regulatory respiratory center. This region was called Peritrigeminal region 5 (Peri5). Therefore, This proposal is largely devoted to: 1) define the developmental origin of Peri5 region; 2) map the connections of these neurons and the retrotrapezoid nucleus; and 3) verify the participation of Peri5 neurons in the respiratory rhythm regulation and in the ventilatory response to hypoxia and hypercapnia in newborn and adult mice by stimulating or inhibiting reversibly the Peri5 neurons using optogenetics. (AU)