Maturation of brain stem neurons involved in respiratory rhythmogenesis: biochemical, bioelectrical and morphological properties.
Neonatal and adult respiratory-related functions of brain stem were compared using in vivo or in vitro approaches. The control of inspiratory off-switch by glutamate-like neurotransmitters was found active at birth. However, neurons from the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) are immature at birth because they present growth cones and the transient potassium current appears progressively during the first week of life in association with modification of the dendritic tree. These data support the hypothesis that the mechanisms of respiratory rhythmogenesis are different at birth and in the adult.
Institut Alfred-Fessard, Equipe de Biologie Fonctionnelle du Neurone, CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
M
M
Denavit-Saubié
M
M
Kalia
O
O
Pierrefiche
P
P
Schweitzer
A S
AS
Foutz
J
J
Champagnat
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D002415:Cats; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology*; D012125:Respiratory Center / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D017552:Solitary Nucleus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology
D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate