Contributions of carotid bodies, retrotrapezoid nucleus neurons and preBötzinger complex astrocytes to the CO<sub>2</sub>‐sensitive drive for breathing
Bibliographic record
Abstract
Abstract Current models of respiratory CO 2 chemosensitivity are centred around the function of a specific population of neurons residing in the medullary retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN). However, there is significant evidence suggesting that chemosensitive neurons exist in other brainstem areas, including the rhythm‐generating region of the medulla oblongata – the preBötzinger complex (preBötC). There is also evidence that astrocytes, non‐neuronal brain cells, contribute to central CO 2 chemosensitivity. In this study, we reevaluated the relative contributions of the RTN neurons, the preBötC astrocytes, and the carotid body chemoreceptors in mediating the respiratory responses to CO 2 in experimental animals (adult laboratory rats). To block astroglial signalling via exocytotic release of transmitters, preBötC astrocytes were targeted to express the tetanus toxin light chain (TeLC). Bilateral expression of TeLC in preBötC astrocytes was associated with ∼20% and ∼30% reduction of the respiratory response to CO 2 in conscious and anaesthetized animals, respectively. Carotid body denervation reduced the CO 2 respiratory response by ∼25%. Bilateral inhibition of RTN neurons transduced to express Gi‐coupled designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drug (DREADD Gi ) by application of clozapine‐ N ‐oxide reduced the CO 2 response by ∼20% and ∼40% in conscious and anaesthetized rats, respectively. Combined blockade of astroglial signalling in the preBötC, inhibition of RTN neurons and carotid body denervation reduced the CO 2 ‐induced respiratory response by ∼70%. These data further support the hypothesis that the CO 2 ‐sensitive drive to breathe requires inputs from the peripheral chemoreceptors and several central chemoreceptor sites. At the preBötC level, astrocytes modulate the activity of the respiratory network in response to CO 2 , either by relaying chemosensory information (i.e. they act as CO 2 sensors) or by enhancing the preBötC network excitability to chemosensory inputs. image Key points This study reevaluated the roles played by the carotid bodies, neurons of the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) and astrocytes of the preBötC in mediating the CO 2 ‐sensitive drive to breathe. The data obtained show that disruption of preBötC astroglial signalling, blockade of inputs from the peripheral chemoreceptors or inhibition of RTN neurons similarly reduce the respiratory response to hypercapnia. These data provide further support for the hypothesis that the CO 2 ‐sensitive drive to breathe is mediated by the inputs from the peripheral chemoreceptors and several central chemoreceptor sites.
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How this classification was reachedexpand
Full frame machine prediction
Teacher imitationNot calibrated prevalence, not ground truth. Human validation pending. The Gemma side is a direct model label for every work in the frame, read from the title-only record. The Codex side is a classifier learned from the 10,348 direct Codex labels and calibrated to design-weighted sample rates; fields without enough sample support carry no Codex call. Candidate is the union of the two sides; consensus is their intersection. These outputs are machine_predicted_unvalidated and are not human labels.
Distilled classifier scores by category (both heads)
| Category | Codex | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| Metaresearch | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Meta-epidemiology (narrow) | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Meta-epidemiology (broad) | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Bibliometrics | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Science and technology studies | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Scholarly communication | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Open science | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Research integrity | 0.000 | 0.000 |
| Insufficient payload (model declined to judge) | 0.001 | 0.000 |
Machine scores (provisional)
The two teacher heads of the student model, read on this work. A score orders the frame for review; it never asserts a category, and the validation status ships verbatim with every row.
Baseline scores from an immature model (maturity gate not passed, 7 training rounds). Scores rank; they never assert a category.
score_only:v0-immature-baseline · verbatim from the scoring run: score_only means the number may rank works, and no category label ships from itClassification
machine, unvalidatedMachine predicted; a candidate call from one source (direct Gemma or distilled Codex), not a consensus.
How this classification was reached, model by model and score by score, is at the end of the page under "How this classification was reached".