Abstract
Activation of peripheral chemoreflex induces bradycardia, elevated blood pressure, active expiration and tachypnea. The first synapse of chemoreceptor afferents occurs in the commissural region of the Nucleus Tractus Solitarius (NTS). Studies from our laboratory suggest that astrocytes participate, via ATP release, in the processing of chemoreflex responses in the NTS. In addition, our la…