Anatomical organization of CO2-activated locus coeruleus noradrenergic neurons

• Grant number: 25/08230-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Luciane Helena Gargaglioni Batalhão
• Grantee: Mariana Bernardes Ribeiro
• Supervisor: Gaspard Montandon
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: St. Michael'S Hospital, Canada
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/09207-9 - Locus coeruleus and CO2/pH chemosensitivity in mice: evaluation during development, sleep/wake cycle and arousal respons, BP.DR

Abstract

The locus coeruleus (LC) is considered the main noradrenergic cell group in the central nervous system and sends projections to many areas of the brain. This is one of the areas that stands out in the ventilatory response to CO2, where more than 80% of noradrenergic neurons are sensitive to CO2/pH. It is well known that changes in blood gas concentrations can disturb the emotional state. The association between hypercapnia and panic disorders is quite strong, and it has already been demonstrated that patients suffering from panic disorder have a greater sensitivity to CO2/pH. Thus, the present project aims to evaluate how the anatomical organization of LC neurons that are activated by CO2 occurs, seeking to map which neurons are activated by moderate (7% CO2) and severe (20% CO2) hypercapnia and whether these populations send projections to neurons in the Pre-Bötzinger complex, a region involved in respiratory control, and the central nucleus of the amygdala, a region involved in behavior. We will also investigate whether sexual dimorphism exists in the activation patterns and neural projections. (AU)