Synaptic activation of hypoglossal respiratory motorneurons during inspiration in rats
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
11-8-2002
Journal
Neuroscience Letters
Volume
332
Issue
3
DOI
10.1016/S0304-3940(02)00957-6
Keywords
Acetylcholine; Cholinergic; Gap junctions; N-methyl-D-aspartate; Nicotine; Non-N-methyl-D-aspartate
Abstract
Recent work has suggested glutamatergic and cholinergic synapses, and electric coupling may be involved in the activation of hypoglossal motorneurons during inspiration, however their relative importance is unknown. In this study we examined the excitatory inputs to hypoglossal motorneurons in a brainstem slice preparation. Focal application of D-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate significantly inhibited a long lasting inward current evoked during inspiration. 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione completely blocked the post-synaptic currents that increased in frequency and amplitude during inspiration and also reduced the long lasting inward current. Nicotinic receptors and gap junctional communication, blocked by D-tubocurare and carbenoxolone, respectively, contributed significant but smaller inputs to hypoglossal motorneurons during inspiration. In summary, non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors constitute the largest excitatory drive to hypoglossal neurons during inspiration, while NMDA, nicotinic receptors and gap junctions are also actively involved. © 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
APA Citation
Wang, J., Irnaten, M., Venkatesan, P., Evans, C., Baxi, S., & Mendelowitz, D. (2002). Synaptic activation of hypoglossal respiratory motorneurons during inspiration in rats. Neuroscience Letters, 332 (3). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3940(02)00957-6