Structural and functional properties of respiratory neurons in the brainstem

DOI
  • Tanaka Ikuko
    Dept. Neurobiol., Tokyo Metropol. Inst. Neurosci., Tokyo, Japan
  • Ezure Kazuhisa
    Dept. Neurobiol., Tokyo Metropol. Inst. Neurosci., Tokyo, Japan

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 呼吸中枢ニューロンのおもしろさ:リズムと制御の基盤

Abstract

Our aim is to analyze the brainstem respiratory network, which involves a variety of respiratory neurons and generates the respiratory rhythm. First, we revealed detailed morphological features of individual respiratory neurons. In anesthetized, paralyzed and artificially ventilated rats, physiologically identified single neurons were labeled juxtamembranously with a mixture of Neurobiotin and HRP. Juxtamembranous injection was used because intracellular injection frequently results in killing of the injected neurons especially if they are small. The mixture of Neurobiotin and HRP improved visualization of myelinated fibers that Neurobiotin alone dose not stain well. Thus, we can reveal the details of dendritic, somal, and axonal morphology of a number of key respiratory neurons. Second, we determined which transmitter is used by inhibitory respiratory neurons: glycine or GABA. Since reliable identification of glycinergic or GABAergic cell bodies by immunohistochemical labeling is difficult, we employed in situ hybridization for mRNAs encoding glycine transporter 2 (GLYT2) as a marker for glycinergic neurons and glutamic acid decarboxylase isoform 67 (GAD67) as a marker for GABAergic neurons. We labeled single respiratory neurons juxtamembranously with Neurobiotin and then performed double-detection of GLYT2 and GAD67 mRNAs using DIG-labeled and FITC-labeled riboprobes. Thus, we determined which respiratory neurons were glycinergic and which were GABAergic. In addition, we found some respiratory neurons that expressed both mRNAs, suggesting they co-release both glycine and GABA. [Jpn J Physiol 55 Suppl:S14 (2005)]

Journal

Details

  • CRID
    1390001205729806080
  • NII Article ID
    130005447649
  • DOI
    10.14849/psjproc.2005.0_s14_3
  • Data Source
    • JaLC
    • CiNii Articles
  • Abstract License Flag
    Disallowed

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