Allergen disrupts amygdala-respiration coupling

Abstract

Allergic asthma affects both the respiratory function and central nervous system. Communication between the amygdala and respiratory control system is critical for regulating breathing function. To date, no study provides the effect of allergic inflammation on amygdala-respiration coupling. Here, we simultaneously recorded respiration and local field potentials of the amygdala during awake immobility in a rat model of allergic asthma. A decreased synchrony was found between amygdala and respiration in asthmatic rats. Allergen also reduced the modulatory effect of the respiration phase on amygdala power at delta, theta and gamma2 (80−120 Hz) frequencies. Moreover, in the animal model of allergic asthma, delta and theta oscillations strongly coordinate local gamma2 activity in the amygdala. These findings suggest that allergen can induce brain alterations and therefore shed light on future works to address how disruption of amygdala-respiration coupling contributes to respiratory dysfunction in allergic asthma.