Hypoxic augmentation of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and carotid body function.

Abstract

It is generally accepted that neurotransmitters are involved in hypoxic chemotransmission of the carotid body. The release of neurotransmitters from the glomus cell, a putative chemoreceptor cell, appears to be triggered by an influx of calcium and subsequent increase in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i). Several reports indicate that L-type and some other types of voltage-gated calcium channels are responsible for neurotranmitter release from glomus cells. Since these channels are activated by depolarization of the cell membrane, mechanisms of hypoxic depolarization of glomus cells has been a major focus of investigation (Shirahata and Sham, 1999).