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The Retrotrapezoid Nucleus and Breathing

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Arterial Chemoreception

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 758))

Abstract

The retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) is located in the rostral medulla oblongata close to the ventral surface and consists of a bilateral cluster of glutamatergic neurons that are non-aminergic and express homeodomain transcription factor Phox2b throughout life. These neurons respond vigorously to increases in local pCO2 via cell-autonomous and paracrine (glial) mechanisms and receive additional chemosensory information from the carotid bodies. RTN neurons exclusively innervate the regions of the brainstem that contain the respiratory pattern generator (RPG). Lesion or inhibition of RTN neurons largely attenuates the respiratory chemoreflex of adult rats whereas their activation increases respiratory rate, inspiratory amplitude and active expiration. Phox2b mutations that cause congenital central hypoventilation syndrome in humans prevent the development of RTN neurons in mice. Selective deletion of the RTN Phox2b-VGLUT2 neurons by genetic means in mice eliminates the respiratory chemoreflex in neonates.

In short, RTN Phox2b-VGLUT2 neurons are a major nodal point of the CNS network that regulates pCO2 via breathing and these cells are probable central chemoreceptors.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, 1300 Jefferson Park Avenue, 800735, Charlottesville, VA, 22908-0735, USA

    Patrice G. Guyenet, Ruth L. Stornetta, Stephen B. G. Abbott, Seth D. Depuy & Roy Kanbar

Authors
  1. Patrice G. Guyenet
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  2. Ruth L. Stornetta
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  3. Stephen B. G. Abbott
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  4. Seth D. Depuy
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  5. Roy Kanbar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patrice G. Guyenet .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Biology, McMaster University, Main St. W. 1280, Hamilton, L8S 4K1, Ontario, Canada

    Colin A. Nurse

  2. Facultad de Medicina, Depto. Bioquímica y Biología, Universidad de Valladolid, C\ Ramón y Cajal 7, Valladolid, 47005, Spain

    Constancio Gonzalez

  3. Fac. Medicine & Health, Division of Cardiovascular &, University of Leeds, Clarendon Way, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom

    Chris Peers

  4. , Biological Sciences Div &, University of Chicago, South Maryland Avenue 5841, Chicago, 60637, Illinois, USA

    Nanduri Prabhakar

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© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Guyenet, P.G., Stornetta, R.L., Abbott, S.B.G., Depuy, S.D., Kanbar, R. (2012). The Retrotrapezoid Nucleus and Breathing. In: Nurse, C., Gonzalez, C., Peers, C., Prabhakar, N. (eds) Arterial Chemoreception. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 758. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4584-1_16

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