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Respiration

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Neuroscience in the 21st Century

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Abstract

Respiratory rhythm is generated by a network of neurons located in the ventrolateral medulla. Neuronal interactions with several other respiratory nuclei located in the medulla and pons shape the final pattern of rhythmic drive that coordinates the activation of the rib cage and abdominal and upper airway musculature. Further, there is continuous feedback of afferent signals from mechanoreceptors in the lung, airways, and respiratory muscles that help shape the motor pattern. Feedback from chemoreceptors located peripherally and centrally adjusts the level of ventilation to match metabolic requirements and maintain homeostasis. The respiratory control system is dynamic and plastic, able to meet an enormous range of metabolic and behavioral demands. Despite its robustness, the neural control of breathing is compromised in certain developmental, state-dependent, genetic, and pathological conditions.

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Abbreviations

5-HT:

Serotonin

AMPA:

2-amino-3-(5-methyl-3-oxo-1,2- oxazol-4-yl)propanoic acid

ATP:

Adenosine triphosphate

BötC:

Bötzinger complex

cAMP:

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate

CCHS:

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome

CCK:

Cholecystokinin

CNS:

Central nervous system

cVRG:

Caudal division of ventral respiratory group

Dbx1:

Developing brain homeobox protein

DRG:

Dorsal respiratory group

GABA:

γ-aminobutyric acid

KF:

Kölliker-Fuse nucleus

LPBr:

Lateral parabrachial nucleus

LRt:

Lateral reticular nucleus

Mcp:

Medial cerebellar peduncle

MeCP2:

Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2

Mo5:

Motor nucleus of the trigeminal nerve

MPBr:

Medial parabrachial nucleus

NK1R:

Neurokinin 1 receptor

NTS:

Nucleus of the solitary tractus

OSA:

Obstructive sleep apnea

P cells:

Pump cells

PaCO2 :

Partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide

PAO2 :

Partial pressure of alveolar oxygen

PaO2 :

Partial pressure of arterial oxygen

pFRG/RTN:

Parafacial respiratory group/retrotrapezoid nucleus complex

Pn:

Basilar pontine nuclei

preBötC:

Pre-Bötzinger complex

PRG:

Pontine respiratory group

RAR:

Rapidly adapting receptor

REM:

Rapid eye movements

Robo3:

Roundabout homolog 3

rVRG:

Rostral division of ventral respiratory group

SAR:

Slowly adapting receptor

scp:

Superior cerebellar peduncle

SIDS:

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

SO:

Superior olive

Sol:

Solitary tract

SolC:

Commissural subdivision of the nucleus of the solitary tract

SolVL:

Ventrolateral subdivision of the nucleus of the solitary tract

sp5:

Spinal trigeminal tract

SubP:

Substance P

TASK:

Acid-sensitive two-pore domain K+

TRH:

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone

VE :

Minute ventilation

vlPons:

Ventrolateral pontine region

VRC:

Ventral respiratory column

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 3020 Katz Group Centre for Pharmacy and Health Research, Edmonton, T6G 2E1, Canada

    Prof. John J. Greer & Prof. Gregory D. Funk

Authors
  1. Prof. John J. Greer
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  2. Prof. Gregory D. Funk
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to John J. Greer .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Neurobiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA

    Donald W. Pfaff

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Greer, J.J., Funk, G.D. (2013). Respiration. In: Pfaff, D.W. (eds) Neuroscience in the 21st Century. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1997-6_49

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