Locus coeruleus noradrenergic neurons and CO2 drive to breathing.

Abstract

The Locus coeruleus (LC) has been suggested as a CO(2) chemoreceptor site in mammals. In the present study, we assessed the role of LC noradrenergic neurons in the cardiorespiratory and thermal responses to hypercapnia. To selectively destroy LC noradrenergic neurons, we administered 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) bilaterally into the LC of male Wistar rats. Control animals had vehicle (ascorbic acid) injected (sham group) into the LC. Pulmonary ventilation (plethysmograph), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and body core temperature (T (c), data loggers) were measured followed by 60 min of hypercapnic exposure (7% CO(2) in air). To verify the correct placement and effectiveness of the chemical lesions, tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity was performed. Hypercapnia caused an increase in pulmonary ventilation in all groups, which resulted from increases in respiratory frequency and tidal volume (V (T)) in sham-operated and 6-OHDA-lesioned groups. The hypercapnic ventilatory response was significantly decreased in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats compared with sham group. This difference was due to a decreased V (T) in 6-OHDA rats. LC chemical lesion or hypercapnia did not affect MAP, HR, and T (c). Thus, we conclude that LC noradrenergic neurons modulate hypercapnic ventilatory response but play no role in cardiovascular and thermal regulation under resting conditions.

• Authors: Vivian Biancardi, Kênia C Bícego, Maria Camila Almeida, Luciane H Gargaglioni
• Journal: Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology (Pflugers Arch) Vol. 455 Issue 6 Pg. 1119-28 (Mar 2008) ISSN: 0031-6768 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 17851683 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Sympatholytics
• Carbon Dioxide
• Oxidopamine
• Norepinephrine

Topics

• Animals
• Blood Gas Analysis
• Blood Pressure (drug effects, physiology)
• Body Temperature Regulation (drug effects)
• Carbon Dioxide (pharmacology, physiology)
• Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena (drug effects)
• Data Interpretation, Statistical
• Drive
• Heart Rate (drug effects, physiology)
• Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
• Immunohistochemistry
• Locus Coeruleus (cytology, physiology)
• Male
• Neurons (physiology)
• Norepinephrine (physiology)
• Oxidopamine
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Respiratory Mechanics (drug effects, physiology)
• Sympathectomy, Chemical
• Sympatholytics