Role of the locus coeruleus catecholaminergic neurons in the chemosensory control of breathing in a Parkinson's disease model

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A previous study has demonstrated that in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-model of Parkinson's disease (PD) there is a reduction in the number of Phox2b neurons in the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) and a decrease in the respiratory response to hypercapnia 40days after PD-induction. The functional deficiency is restored 60days after 6-OHDA injection and here we tested the hypothesis that the locus coeruleus (LC) could be a candidate to restore the breathing deficiency. Minute Ventilation (VE) in response to hypercapnia (7% CO2) was assessed one day before, and then 40 and 60days after bilateral 6-OHDA (24μg/μL) or vehicle injections into the LC in control or PD-induced male Wistar rats. Bilateral injections of 6-OHDA decreased catecholaminergic neurons by 86% and 83% in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and LC, respectively. As already described, in animals with lesions to the SNpc (N=6/group), the reduction in the ventilatory response to hypercapnia was restored 60days after PD (1257±81 vs. vehicle: 1185±49mL/kg/min). However, in animals with PD and lesion in the LC, the ventilation was blunted (674±39mL/kg/min). In another group of PD rats, we observed a reduction in the number of hypercapnia-induced-fos+ cells in the RTN region (40days: 38±3 and 60days: 8.5±0.9 vs. vehicle 78±3 cells) and an increase in the LC (40days: 46±4 and 60days: 94±22 vs. vehicle 1±1 cells). Our data suggest that LC catecholaminergic neurons can be a candidate structure mediating chemoreceptor function in a model of PD.