Search for Genes Involved Central Respiratory Failure Using Mice Models

Summary

To search for genes that cause human congenital respiratory failure, we undertook several studies using wild type mice and gene-deficient mice that exhibit respiratory failure. 1) To assess respiratory abnormality, ventilatory parameters were determined by whole-body plethysmography of prenatal and neonatal mice. 2) To clarify the mechanism of respiratory failure, respiratory neuron activity was examined by electrophysiological and optical imaging analysis using a brainstem-spinal cord preparation. 3) To search for the genes related to central respiratory failure in brainstem, alteration of gene expression in the medulla oblongata during transition from embryonic respiration to external respiration was examined by DNA microarray. To date, we have studied several lines of gene-deficient mice exhibit respiratory failure, and we propose a model of central respiratory failure as a syndrome resembling congenital central hypoventilation.