Hypercapnia In Rats Research Articles

Electrophysiological properties and phenotype of the expiratory lateral parafacial neurons of rats

Active expiration is essential for increasing pulmonary ventilation during high chemical drive (hypercapnia). Several studies demonstrated that the lateral aspect of the parafacial (pFL) region, which contains expiratory neurons, drives abdominal muscles during active expiration in response to hypercapnia. However, the electrophysiological properties and synaptic mechanisms determining the activity of pFL expiratory neurons and the specific conditions for their emergence are not fully understood. Therefore, using whole-cell electrophysiology and single-cell qRT-PCR techniques, we evaluated the intrinsic electrophysiological properties, the phenotype, and the respiratory-related synaptic inputs to the pFL expiratory neurons, as well as the mechanisms for the expression of their expiratory activity under conditions of hypercapnia induced active expiration in in situ preparations of juvenile rats. We also evaluated whether these neurons possess intrinsic CO 2 /[H + ] sensitivity. All recorded pFL expiratory neurons were glutamatergic. In normocapnia, GABAergic and glycinergic inhibition during inspiration and expiration suppressed the activity of excitatory pFL expiratory neurons. In hypercapnia, these neurons escape glycinergic inhibition and generate burst discharges at the end of expiration. Post-inhibitory rebound, Ca V 3.2 isoform of T-type Ca 2+ channels, and intracellular [Ca 2+ ] contribute to their expiratory activity. Hypercapnia/hypocapnia or acidosis/alkalosis did not affect the activity of pFL expiratory neurons, indicating that these neurons do not possess intrinsic CO2 and pH sensitivity. Additionally, ion channels/receptors (TASK or GPR4) related to CO 2 /[H + ] sensitivity were not expressed by pFL expiratory neurons. In conclusion, the intrinsic electrophysiological properties and post-synaptic disinhibition of glutamatergic neurons both play essential roles in generating the expiratory oscillations in the pFL region during hypercapnia in rats. FAPESP and CNPq This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Renal Sympathetic Nerve Activity Responses to Hypoxia and Hypercapnia in Rats Exposed to Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia

Increased responsiveness of the carotid bodies to acute hypoxia was shown in animals exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). The kidney is sensitive to hypoxia and decreased cortical partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) levels was revealed in rats exposed to moderate CIH. We hypothesized that the response of the renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) to acute hypoxia and hypercapnia is enhanced in rats exposed to CIH. Wistar rats were exposed to 96 cycles of CIH (6% O2, 8 hr/day, n=6) or to normoxia (sham, 21% O2, n=9) for 14 days. On day 15, rats were anesthetized (induction: urethane, α‐chloralose and sodium pentobarbitone mixture i.p. (416, 27 and 33mg/kg), maintenance: urethane and α‐chloralose mixture i.v. (62 and 4mg/kg)) to record cardiovascular parameters and RSNA. Rats were provided with supplementary oxygen to maintain PO2 levels > 84 mmHg. During hypoxia, rats breathed 10% O2for two minutes. This was followed with a hypercapnic challenge during which rats breathed 10% CO2 for 5 minutes. Following a 90‐minute recovery period, capsaizepine (CPZ, 5µg/ml/hr), a TRPV1 blocker, was infused into the right kidney. Then, hypoxic and hypercapnic challenges were repeated following the intra‐renal infusion of CPZ. Data are expressed as mean±SD and were analyzed using t‐test or ANOVA, where relevant. CIH rats were hypertensive (130±9 vs. 118±9mmHg, p=0.039) with comparable basal HR (425±38 vs. 407±34bpm), and RSNA (% of max, 33±12 vs. 25±12) compared with sham rats. In response to acute hypoxia, RSNA was increased to an equivalent extent in CIH‐exposed and sham rats (Maximum change in RSNA of baseline, 128±23 vs. 125±16%; RSNA (% of max), 36±7 vs. 44±22%). Additionally, the increase in HR in response to acute hypoxia was similar between CIH‐exposed and sham rats (∆HR, +42±29 vs. +30±27bpm). Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was similarly decreased in CIH‐exposed and sham rats during acute hypoxia (Maximum change in MAP, ‐33±24 vs. ‐27±17mmHg). The decrease in PaO2 levels during hypoxia was comparable between exposure groups (∆PaO2, ‐48±15 vs. ‐47±10mmHg). Hypercapnia induced a comparable increase in the RSNA in CIH‐exposed and sham rats (Maximum change in RSNA of baseline, +121±15 vs. +113±8%). The analysis of absolute RSNA when normalized to maximum RSNA showed that CIH‐exposed rats had increased RSNA compared with sham rats before and after exposure to hypercapnia (RSNA (% of max), 37±8 vs. 26±10%, p=0.037). The increase in PaCO2 levels during hypercapnia was similar between CIH and sham groups (∆PaCO2, +24±8 vs. +19±6mmHg). Intra‐renal CPZ did not alter the increase in RSNA and HR in response to hypoxia and hypercapnia in CIH‐exposed and sham rats. Protein expression of TRPV1 receptors in kidney tissue was equivalent in both exposure groups (1.88±0.23 vs. 1.68±0.26ng/mg). Our results indicate that the responsiveness of RSNA to acute hypoxia and hypercapnia is not altered following exposure to moderate CIH sufficient to increase RSNA and blood pressure.

Intrinsic and synaptic mechanisms controlling the expiratory activity of excitatory lateral parafacial neurones of rats.

Active expiration is essential for increasing pulmonary ventilation during high chemical drive (hypercapnia). The lateral parafacial (pFL ) region, which contains expiratory neurones, drives abdominal muscles during active expiration in response to hypercapnia. However, the electrophysiological properties and synaptic mechanisms determining the activity of pFL expiratory neurones, as well as the specific conditions for their emergence, are not fully understood. Using whole cell electrophysiology and single cell quantitative RT-PCR techniques, we describe the intrinsic electrophysiological properties, the phenotype and the respiratory-related synaptic inputs to the pFL expiratory neurones, as well as the mechanisms for the expression of their expiratory activity under conditions of hypercapnia-induced active expiration, using in situ preparations of juvenile rats. We also evaluated whether these neurones possess intrinsic CO2 /[H+ ] sensitivity and burst generating properties. GABAergic and glycinergic inhibition during inspiration and expiration suppressed the activity of glutamatergic pFL expiratory neurones in normocapnia. In hypercapnia, these neurones escape glycinergic inhibition and generate burst discharges at the end of expiration. Evidence for the contribution of post-inhibitory rebound, CaV 3.2 isoform of T-type Ca2+ channels and intracellular [Ca2+ ] is presented. Neither intrinsic bursting properties, mediated by persistent Na+ current, nor CO2 /[H+ ] sensitivity or expression of CO2 /[H+ ] sensitive ion channels/receptors (TASK or GPR4) were observed. On the other hand, hyperpolarisation-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated and twik-related K+ leak channels were recorded. Post-synaptic disinhibition and the intrinsic electrophysiological properties of glutamatergic neurones play important roles in the generation of the expiratory oscillations in the pFL region during hypercapnia in rats. KEY POINTS: Hypercapnia induces active expiration in rats and the recruitment of a specific population of expiratory neurones in the lateral parafacial (pFL ) region. Post-synaptic GABAergic and glycinergic inhibition both suppress the activity of glutamatergic pFL neurones during inspiratory and expiratory phases in normocapnia. Hypercapnia reduces glycinergic inhibition during expiration leading to burst generation by pFL neurones; evidence for a contribution of post-inhibitory rebound, voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and intracellular [Ca2+ ] is presented. pFL glutamatergic expiratory neurones are neither intrinsic burster neurones, nor CO2 /[H+ ] sensors, and do not express CO2 /[H+ ] sensitive ion channels or receptors. Post-synaptic disinhibition and the intrinsic electrophysiological properties of glutamatergic neurones both play important roles in the generation of the expiratory oscillations in the pFL region during hypercapnia in rats.

The role of testosterone in the respiratory and thermal responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia in rats.

Many diseases of the respiratory system occur differently in males and females, indicating a possible role of gonadal hormones in respiratory control. We hypothesized that testosterone (T) is important for the ventilatory chemosensitivity responses in males. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated ventilation (V̇ E), metabolic rate and body temperature (Tb) under normoxia/normocapnia, hypercapnia and hypoxia in orchiectomized (ORX), ORX with testosterone replacement (ORX + T) or flutamide (FL, androgen receptor blocker)-treated rats. We also performed immunohistochemistry to evaluate the presence of androgen receptor (AR) in the carotid body (CB) of intact males. Orchiectomy promoted a reduction V̇ E and ventilatory equivalent (V̇ E /V̇ O2) under room-air conditions, which was restored with testosterone treatment. Moreover, during hypoxia or hypercapnia, animals that received testosterone replacement had a higher V̇ E and V̇ E /V̇ O2 than control and ORX, without changes in metabolic and thermal variables. Flutamide decreased the hypoxic ventilatory response without changing the CO2-drive to breathe, suggesting that the testosterone effect on hypercapnic hyperventilation does not appear to involve the AR. We also determined the presence of AR in the CB of intact animals. Our findings demonstrate that testosterone seems to be important for maintaining resting V̇ E in males. In addition, the influence of testosterone on V̇ E, either during resting conditions or under hypoxia and hypercapnia, seems to be a direct and specific effect, as no changes in metabolic rate or Tb were observed during any treatment. Finally, a putative site of testosterone action during hypoxia is the CB, since we detected the presence of AR in this structure.

Hyperoxia blunts renal sympathetic nerve activity response to acute intermittent hypercapnia in rats.

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system plays an important role in the pathophysiology of sleep-related breathing disorders. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of different levels of hypercapnia in the presence of various background oxygen levels on the magnitude of sympathoexcitation, measured by the renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) in the acute intermittent hypercapnia (AIHc) rat model. The study was conducted on 56 urethane-anesthetized, vagotomized and mechanically ventilated Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 7/group). Each experimental group was subjected to a distinct AIHc protocol that varied in the applied levels of hypercapnia and background oxygen. Mean arterial pressure and RSNA were analyzed in 7 experimental time points: baseline, five hypercapnic episodes (each lasting 3 min) and 15 minutes following the last hypercapnic episode. Exposure to severe hypercapnia (FiCO2 = 0.15) evoked an increase in RSNA, which was preserved throughout the protocol, whereas in moderate hypercapnia (FiCO2 = 0.05) groups there was a trend of progressive diminution of RSNA magnitude following the first hypercapnic episode. Exposure to severe hypercapnia elicited significantly greater RSNA response during first hypercapnic episode and it was enhanced during subsequent episodes compared to exposure to moderate hypercapnia. Additionally, hyperoxic2 background (50% O2) blunted the RSNA response to AIHc compared to room air background, both in severe and moderate hypercapnia groups. Mean arterial blood pressure was preserved throughout the experimental protocol in all studied groups. These findings indicate that acute intermittent hypercapnia evokes increased renal sympathetic nerve activity that is dependent on the severity of hypercapnic exposures and the background oxygen level.

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation relieves pulmonary artery hypertension associated with chronic hypoxic hypercapnia

Objective To investigate effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on pulmonary arterial hypertension induced by chronic hypoxic hypercapnia in rats. Methods Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal control group (the control group), a hypoxic hypercapnia group (the model group), and a hypoxic hypercapnia + NMES group (the NMES group), each of 6. The rats in both the model and NMES groups were placed in an isobaric cabin with an O2 concentration of 9% to 11% and a CO2 concentration of 5% to 6% for 8 hours a day for 4 weeks. After leaving the cabin, NMES was performed on the NMES group′s bilateral calf muscles for 30 minutes every day. The heart was removed, and the right ventricle (RV) and the left ventricle plus the septum (LV+ S) were dissected. An index of right ventricular hypertrophy was calculated as RVHI=RV/(LV+ S). Any changes in the pulmonary vasculature were observed using an optical microscope. WT% and WA% were calculated. The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), PDH-E1α and PDK1 in the lung tissue were determined using western blotting. The LDH activity and the concentration of PDH in the lung tissue homogenate were measured was measured by spectrophotometric method using the LDH assay kit and ELISA , respectively. Results Compared with the control group, the average RVHI, WT% and WA%, the protein expression of HIF-1α and PDK1, and LDH activity had all increased significantly in the NMES group, while the average expression of PDH-1Eα had decreased significantly. Compared with the model group, significant decrease was observed in the average RVHI, WT%, WA%, protein expression of HIF-1α and PDK1, and LDH activity in the NMES group, but the average expression of PDH-1Eα increased significantly. No significant differences in PDH concentration were detected among the 3 groups. Conclusions NMES may alleviate pulmonary artery hypertension induced by chronic hypoxic hypercapnia, at least in rats. The mechanism may be attributed to inhibiting the expression of HIF-1α protein, which may inhibit the activity of PDH-E1α and LDH, then the aerobic metabolism into glycolysis, finally improving the remodeling of the pulmonary vascular structure. Key words: Hypoxic hypercapnia; Pulmonary arterial hypertension; Neuromuscular electrical stimulation; Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α

Non-chemosensitive parafacial neurons simultaneously regulate active expiration and airway patency under hypercapnia in rats.

Hypercapnia or parafacial respiratory group (pFRG) disinhibition at normocapnia evokes active expiration in rats by recruitment of pFRG late-expiratory (late-E) neurons. We show that hypercapnia simultaneously evoked active expiration and exaggerated glottal dilatation by late-E synaptic excitation of abdominal, hypoglossal and laryngeal motoneurons. Simultaneous rhythmic expiratory activity in previously silent pFRG late-E neurons, which did not express the marker of ventral medullary CO2 -sensitive neurons (transcription factor Phox2b), was also evoked by hypercapnia. Hypercapnia-evoked active expiration, neural and neuronal late-E activities were eliminated by pFRG inhibition, but not after blockade of synaptic excitation. Hypercapnia produces disinhibition of non-chemosensitive pFRG late-E neurons to evoke active expiration and concomitant cranial motor respiratory responses controlling the oropharyngeal and upper airway patency. Hypercapnia produces active expiration in rats and the recruitment of late-expiratory (late-E) neurons located in the parafacial respiratory group (pFRG) of the ventral medullary brainstem. We tested the hypothesis that hypercapnia produces active expiration and concomitant cranial respiratory motor responses controlling the oropharyngeal and upper airway patency by disinhibition of pFRG late-E neurons, but not via synaptic excitation. Phrenic nerve, abdominal nerve (AbN), cranial respiratory motor nerves, subglottal pressure, and medullary and spinal neurons/motoneurons were recorded in in situ preparations of juvenile rats. Hypercapnia evoked AbN active expiration, exaggerated late-E discharges in cranial respiratory motor outflows, and glottal dilatation via late-E synaptic excitation of abdominal, hypoglossal and laryngeal motoneurons. Simultaneous rhythmic late-E activity in previously silent pFRG neurons, which did not express the marker of ventral medullary CO2 -sensitive neurons (transcription factor Phox2b), was also evoked by hypercapnia. In addition, hypercapnia-evoked AbN active expiration, neural and neuronal late-E activities were eliminated by pFRG inhibition, but not after blockade of synaptic excitation. On the other hand, pFRG inhibition did not affect either hypercapnia-induced inspiratory increases in respiratory motor outflows or CO2 sensitivity of the more medial Phox2b-positive neurons in the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN). Our data suggest that neither RTN Phox2b-positive nor other CO2 -sensitive brainstem neurons activate Phox2b-negative pFRG late-E neurons under hypercapnia to produce AbN active expiration and concomitant cranial motor respiratory responses controlling the oropharyngeal and upper airway patency. Hypercapnia produces disinhibition of non-chemosensitive pFRG late-E neurons in in situ preparations of juvenile rats to activate abdominal, hypoglossal and laryngeal motoneurons.

Dynamics of pial vessels reactivity after brief cerebral ischemia

Cerebral blood vessel reactivity is one of the main determinants of final outcome of brain ischemia. Most of studies on the vascular mechanisms of ischemic brain injury, however, focus on the acute changes within ischemic period or several hours after it. Dilatatory capacity of cerebral arterioles (perfusion reservoir) is considered as an important factor of brain perfusion elevation in critical situations.The aim of the present study was to examine the pial vessel reactivity in response to hypercapnia in rats, subjected to transient global cerebral ischemia, at 7, 14 and 21 days after ischemia. Materials and methods. Transient global cerebral ischemia was induced in anesthetized Wistar rats by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion for 12 min with simultaneous controlled hypotension to 45±3 mm Hg, followed by blood reinfusion and recovery from anesthesia. Three different groups of rats were re-anesthetized at 7, 14 or 21 days after ischemia and subjected to microvascular reactivity studies using in vivo video microscopy. Hypercapnia was caused by i.v. injection of acetazolamide. The changes in diameter of pial arteries and veins in response to hypercapnia were measured. Results and discussion. Global cerebral ischemia led to marked decrease in pial vessels (both arteries and veins) reactivity in response to hypercapnia, caused by i.v. injection of acetazolamide. In intact rats, i.v. injection of acetazolamide led to pial arteries dilation and pial veins constriction; in animals subjected to ischemia-reperfuion. the numbers of dilated large arteries and constricted small veins were much less, as well as the extent of arterial dilation. Reactivity changes were observed in all time points studied. Conclusions. Thus, transient global cerebral ischemia cause marked and long lasting (3 weeks) decrease in pial vessel reactivity in response to hypercapnia.

Vagal afferent control of abdominal expiratory activity in response to hypoxia and hypercapnia in rats

In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that vagal afferent information modulates the pattern of expiratory response to hypercapnia and hypoxia. Simultaneous recordings of airflow, diaphragmatic (DIA) and oblique abdominal muscle (ABD) activities were performed in anesthetized (urethane, 1.2g/kg), tracheostomized, spontaneously breathing male Wistar rats (290–320g, n=12). The animals were exposed to hypercapnia (7 and 10% CO2 for 5min) and hypoxia (7% O2 for 1min) before and after bilateral vagotomy. We verified that the percentage increase in DIA burst amplitude elicited by hypercapnia and hypoxia episodes was similar between intact and vagotomized rats (P>0.05). In contrast, hypercapnia and hypoxia promoted a marked increase in ABD activity in vagotomized, but not in intact rats (P<0.01). These amplified expiratory motor changes after vagotomy were associated with enhanced expiratory airflow (P<0.01) and augmented tidal volume responses (P<0.01). Our data indicates that, in anesthetized conditions, the removal of peripheral afferent inputs facilitates the processing of active expiration in response to hypercapnia and hypoxia in rats.

Tolerance to acute hypoxia maximally increases in case of joint effect of normobaric hypoxia and permissive hypercapnia in rats

IntroductionWe studied the comparative efficacy of independent and combined effects of normobaric hypoxia (90mmHg) and permissive hypercapnia (50mmHg) in increasing the tolerance of rats to acute hypobaric hypoxia. MethodsWe determined the time to loss of pose and life duration as a measure to assess the degree of tolerance of animals to hypobaric hypoxia by exposing them to an altitude of 11,500m (barometric=180mmHg). ResultsExposure to hypercapnic hypoxia increased the tolerance to acute hypobaric hypoxia compared to exposure to normobaric hypoxia or permissive hypercapnia alone. DiscussionThe positive effects of hypercapnia and hypercapnic hypoxia occurred after one exposure, and increasing the number of exposures proportionally increased the tolerance to acute hypobaric hypoxia. The effect of permissive hypercapnia on increasing the tolerance to acute hypobaric hypoxia was found to be significantly greater than that of exposure to normobaric hypoxia. Therefore, we propose that hypercapnia is the dominant factor in increasing tolerance to acute hypobaric hypoxia. ConclusionTolerance to acute hypoxia maximally increases in case of joint effect of normobaric hypoxia and permissive hypercapnia.

Hemodynamic and ventilatory response to different levels of hypoxia and hypercapnia in carotid body-denervated rats

OBJECTIVE:Chemoreceptors play an important role in the autonomic modulation of circulatory and ventilatory responses to changes in arterial O2 and/or CO2. However, studies evaluating hemodynamic responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia in rats have shown inconsistent results. Our aim was to evaluate hemodynamic and respiratory responses to different levels of hypoxia and hypercapnia in conscious intact or carotid body-denervated rats.METHODS:Male Wistar rats were submitted to bilateral ligature of carotid body arteries (or sham-operation) and received catheters into the left femoral artery and vein. After two days, each animal was placed into a plethysmographic chamber and, after baseline measurements of respiratory parameters and arterial pressure, each animal was subjected to three levels of hypoxia (15, 10 and 6% O2) and hypercapnia (10% CO2).RESULTS:The results indicated that 15% O2 decreased the mean arterial pressure and increased the heart rate (HR) in both intact (n = 8) and carotid body-denervated (n = 7) rats. In contrast, 10% O2 did not change the mean arterial pressure but still increased the HR in intact rats, and it decreased the mean arterial pressure and increased the heart rate in carotid body-denervated rats. Furthermore, 6% O2 increased the mean arterial pressure and decreased the HR in intact rats, but it decreased the mean arterial pressure and did not change the HR in carotid body-denervated rats. The 3 levels of hypoxia increased pulmonary ventilation in both groups, with attenuated responses in carotid body-denervated rats. Hypercapnia with 10% CO2 increased the mean arterial pressure and decreased HR similarly in both groups. Hypercapnia also increased pulmonary ventilation in both groups to the same extent.CONCLUSION:This study demonstrates that the hemodynamic and ventilatory responses varied according to the level of hypoxia. Nevertheless, the hemodynamic and ventilatory responses to hypercapnia did not depend on the activation of the peripheral carotid chemoreceptors.

The coordination of breathing and swallowing during hypercapnia in rats

The coordination of breathing and swallowing during hypercapnia in rats

Systemic inflammation suppresses hypoxic and hypercapnic ventilatory responses in rats.

Chemoreflex responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia are critical elements of ventilatory control. However, chemoreflexes may be undermined by factors frequently associated with lung disease, such as systemic inflammation. Here, we tested the hypothesis that systemic inflammation suppresses ventilatory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia in rats. Ventilatory responses were assessed in unanesthetized adult rats via whole‐body plethysmography 1 day after lipopolysaccharide administration (LPS: 1 mg in saline, i.p.). In Lewis rats, LPS suppressed both hypoxic (10.5% O2; vehicle: 90±19%; LPS: 37±11%; p &lt; 0.05) and hypercapnic ventilatory responses (7% CO2; vehicle: 223±22%; LPS: 66±26%; p &lt; 0.05). Splenic iNOS mRNA increased 6.5‐fold (qPCR) in LPS‐treated Lewis rats, demonstrating systemic inflammation. In contrast, there was no evidence for suppressed hypoxic (vehicle: 127±14%; LPS: 92±21%) or hypercapnic ventilatory responses (vehicle: 216±19%; LPS: 239±27%) in LPS‐treated Sprague Dawley rats, nor were splenic iNOS mRNA levels increased. Thus, although LPS sensitivity varies among rat strains, systemic inflammation suppressed chemoreflex responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia. Suppressed chemoreflex responses may impair the ability to respond appropriately to ventilatory challenges in disease states associated with inflammation, including many lung diseases (NIH HL69064 and HL007654).Grant Funding Source: NIH HL69064 and HL007654

Galanin microinjection into the PreBötzinger or the Bötzinger Complex terminates central inspiratory activity and reduces responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia in rat

Respiratory rhythm is generated and shaped by the synaptic interaction of neurons in the Bötzinger Complex (BötC) and PreBötzinger Complex (PreBötC) located in the ventral respiratory column of the medulla. Metabotropic receptors are important modulators of fast neurotransmission in the generation and shaping of respiratory rhythm. Microinjection of the neuropeptide galanin (1mM, 50 nL, 50 pmol) into functionally identified BötC or PreBötC in urethane anesthetized, mechanically ventilated and vagotomized rats caused severe dysrhythmia or persistent apnea. In the BötC and PreBötC, galanin reduced the ventilatory response to hypercapnia (5% CO(2)) by 21% (P<0.001) and 38% (P<0.01) respectively. In the BötC and PreBötC, galanin reduced the ventilatory response to hypoxia (10% O(2)) by 15% (P<0.05) and 23% (P<0.01) respectively. These results indicate that microinjection of galanin into the BötC or PreBötC depresses a neural substrate required for the generation of respiratory motor output and reflex responses to hypercapnea and hypoxia.

Commentaries on Viewpoint: Central chemoreception is a complex system function that involves multiple brain stem sites

to the editor: Amniote vertebrates adjust the acid-base status of the blood through ventilatory alterations of PaCO2 and, to some degree, by renal modulation of bicarbonate concentration. Receptor systems for the ventilatory acid-base regulation has been studied mainly in mammals, in which the

Aerosolized capsaicin (CAP) pretreatment prevents lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced inhibition of ventilatory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia in rats

LPS causes pulmonary inflammation and blunted hypoxic (HVR) and hypercapnic ventilatory responses (HCVR) in anesthetized rats. Because CAP is a potent stimulant of bronchopulmonary C‐fibers (PCFs) and it promotes pulmonary inflammation, we hypothesized that the LPS‐induced inhibition of HCVR and HVR was aggravated by CAP pretreatment. Rats were exposed to either aerosolized CAP (0.4 mg/ml) or vehicle for 5 days for two 5‐min episodes daily that were 4 hr apart. After the pretreatment, the rats were intratracheally instilled with LPS (0.5 mg/0.5 ml) or saline, and anesthetized and tracheotomized 2 days later. Animals’ ventilatory responses to 10% O2 and 10% CO2 for 1 min and apneic response to right atrial bolus‐injections of CAP (1 and 4 μg/0.1 ml) were measured, and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) collected at the end of the experiments. We found that: 1) CAP and/or LPS pretreatment did not affect baseline ventilation; 2) LPS rather than CAP pretreatment alone inhibited HCVR (↓ 63%, P &lt; 0.01) and HVR (↓47%, P &lt; 0.05); 3) these LPS‐induced inhibitions disappeared in CAP‐pretreated rats; and 4) BALF total cell count was significantly increased by LPS, and this increase was not affected by coupling it with CAP pretreatment. We conclude that CAP pretreatment eliminates the LPS‐induced inhibitory effects on HVR and HCVR with little impact on LPS‐induced pulmonary inflammation. (Supported by NIH 74183).

Moderate hypercapnia-induced anesthetic effects and endogenous opioids

The purpose of this report is to explore the mechanisms of hypercapnia-induced antinociception. We carried out three experiments, the first to confirm whether moderate hypercapnia induces anesthetic effects, the second to determine whether naloxone reverses the anesthetic effects, and the third to evaluate whether β-endorphin is related to the anesthetic effects. In a pre-test, we determined the optimal CO 2 concentration in a chamber which would cause moderate hypercapnia in rats. Eighteen rats were divided into control, hypercapnia, and hypercapnia plus naloxone groups in experiment 1. The naloxone group rats were injected with naloxone (10 mg/kg) intraperitoneally before gas inhalation. After 60 min gas inhalation, 10% formalin was injected into the left rear paw of all rats, and nociceptive behaviors were observed for 1 h. In experiment 2, 11 rats were divided into control and hypercapnia groups. The brain was removed and fixed under pentobarbital anesthesia. Sections were immunostained for c-Fos and β-endorphin (ACTH) with the ABC method. All neurons double-labeled for c-Fos and β-endorphin (ACTH) in the arcuate nucleus were counted by blinded investigators. Moderate hypercapnia (PaCO 2 83 ± 7 mmHg) reduced nociceptive behavior in the formalin test and naloxone pre-treatment attenuated this phenomenon. However, β-endorphin-producing neurons were not activated by CO 2 inhalation. Endogenous opioids are related to moderate, hypercapnia-induced anesthetic effects, but, β-endorphin-producing neurons in the hypothalamus were not activated by the CO 2 inhalation stress.

Respiratory plasticity after perinatal hypercapnia in rats

Environmental conditions during early life may have profound effects on respiratory control development. We hypothesized that perinatal hypercapnia would exert lasting effects on the mammalian hypercapnic ventilatory response, but that these effects would differ between males and females. Rats were exposed to 5% CO2 from 1 to 3 days before birth through postnatal week 2 and ventilation was subsequently measured by whole-body plethysmography. In both male and female rats exposed to perinatal hypercapnia, a rapid, shallow breathing pattern was observed for the first 2 weeks after return to normocapnia, but ventilation was unchanged. Acute hypercapnic ventilatory responses (3% and 5% CO2) were reduced 27% immediately following perinatal hypercapnia, but these responses were normal after 2 weeks of recovery in both sexes and remained normal as adults. Collectively, these data suggest that perinatal hypercapnia elicits only transient respiratory plasticity in both male and female rats. This plasticity appears similar to that observed after chronic hypercapnia in adult animals and, therefore, is not unique to development.

Response of protein synthesis to hypercapnia in rats: independent effects of acidosis and hypothermia

Acute metabolic acidosis has been shown to inhibit muscle protein synthesis, although little is known on the effect of acidosis of respiratory origin. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of acute respiratory acidosis on tissue protein synthesis. Rats (n = 8) were made acidotic by increasing the CO 2 content of inspired air to 12% for 1 hour. Similar rats breathing normal air served as controls (n = 8). Muscle and liver protein synthesis rates were then measured with l-[ 2H 5]phenylalanine (150 μmol per 100 g body weight, 40 mol%). The results show that protein synthesis is severely depressed in skeletal muscle (−44% in gastrocnemius, −39% in plantaris, and −24% in soleus muscles, P < .01) and liver (−20%, P < .001) in acidotic animals. However, because breathing CO 2-enriched air was found to lower body temperature by approximately 2°C, in a second experiment (n = 10), the difference in body temperature between treated and control animals was minimized by gently wrapping rats breathing CO 2-enriched air in porous cloths. This second experiment confirmed that respiratory acidosis depresses protein synthesis in muscle (−22% in gastrocnemius, P < .001; −19% in plantaris, P < .01; and −4% in soleus, P = NS). However, no effect on liver protein synthesis could be detected, suggesting that liver protein synthesis may be sensitive to changes in body temperature but is not affected by acute respiratory acidosis for 1 hour. The results show that respiratory acidosis inhibits protein synthesis in skeletal muscle and indicates that acidosis, whether of metabolic or respiratory origin, may contribute to loss of muscle protein in patients with compromised renal or respiratory function.

Changes in CBF-BOLD coupling detected by MRI during and after repeated transient hypercapnia in rat.

The effect of hypercapnia on the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption (CMRO(2)) remains incompletely understood. This study examined the relationship between susceptibility (blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD)) and perfusion-weighted (flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR)) MRI techniques both during induction of repeated transient hypercapnia (THC) and after return to normocapnia during whisker barrel functional activation. During induction of THC the FAIR signal became significantly elevated over control after 100 s of hypercapnia (P = 0.039), with a trend of increasing significance to 5 min (P = 0.000008). The FAIR signal in the activated cortex during subsequent normocapnia was significantly increased compared to pre-THC control after each successive period of THC. The mean grouped FAIR signal increased by 81% +/- 63% after one exposure (P = 0.021), by 163% +/- 55% after the second exposure (P = 0.0002), and by 240% +/- 54% after the third exposure (P = 0.000002). The mean grouped BOLD signal trended upward, but did not increase significantly during or after exposure 1, 2, or 3. These data demonstrate increased uncoupling of perfusion-weighted from susceptibility imaging techniques, both in nonactivated cortex during hypercapnia, and with activation after multiple exposures to THC. These results are consistent with saturation of BOLD contrast as well as with increases in CMRO(2) with stimulation after multiple exposures to THC.