Autonomic Ganglion Cells : Likely Source of Acetylcholine in the Rat Carotid Body

Abstract

Peripheral arterial chemoreceptors are essential to respiratory and cardiac homeostasis. Although the components of these chemoreceptors lie within a tiny structure, the carotid body, the physiological affects resulting from activation of the peripheral arterial chemoreceptors have profound effects on arousal responses and cardiorespiratory responses to hypoxia and asphyxia (Gonzalez et αl., 1994). In response to hypoxia, hypercapnia and acidosis the glomus cell within the arterial chemoreceptor depolarizes; intracellular calcium levels rises, and neurotransmitters are released. These neurotransmitters bind to autoreceptors on the glomus cell and postsynaptic receptors on the carotid sinus nerve. Binding of neurotransmitters to autoreceptors on glomus cells regulates further neurotransmitter release, while binding to postsynaptic receptors on chemoafferent nerve fibers results in electrical output through the carotid sinus nerve (for reviews, see Gonzalezet al., 1994; Prabhakar 1994).KeywordsCarotid BodySuperior Cervical GanglionCholine AcetyltransferaseGlomus CellAutonomic GanglionThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.