Sustained hypoxia effects on electrophysiological properties of cardiac motoneurons of dorsal motor nucleus of vagus of rats

• Grant number: 17/20211-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2017
• End date: December 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Cellular Biophysics
• Principal Investigator: Davi José de Almeida Moraes
• Grantee: Júlia Guerra Vieira de Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/10484-5 - Electrophysiological and molecular characterization of neurons involved in the generation of respiratory rhythm and pattern of rats during postnatal development, AP.JP

Abstract

Hypoxia is a condition of metabolic challenge associated with several physiological and pathological conditions. Among the pathologies, cardiopulmonary diseases stand out, which represent the main cause of death worldwide. Cardiopulmonary changes present in situations of prolonged hypoxia involve the modulation of sympathetic and parasympathetic activities for these systems. Although the mechanisms involved in sympathetic activation to the heart under hypoxia conditions are well elucidated, the underlying mechanisms related to cardiac parasympathetic activity are still poorly explored. Considering previous results obtained in our laboratory demonstrating the enhancement of cardiac parasympathetic activity of rats submitted to sustained hypoxia (HM), in this research project we will study the possible mechanisms involved in this modulation. In this regard, we will use the Whole cell patch clamp technique and the retrograde neuronal tracing to evaluate the electrophysiological properties of the cardiac motoneurons of the Dorsal Motor Nucleus of the Vagus of rats, where the cardiac parasympathetic efferent motor activity originates via vagus nerve. The elucidation of these electrophysiological phenomena can help to better understand the cellular mechanisms involved in the central generation of cardiac parasympathetic activity in physiological and pathological conditions, as well as in the development of possible therapies focused on the treatment of cardiopulmonary pathologies. (AU)