The respiratory rhythm in mutant oscillator mice.
Since glycinergic inhibition is important for respiratory rhythm generation in mature mammals, we tested the hypothesis that the loss of glycine receptors during postnatal development (P17-P23) of homozygous mutant oscillator mice (spd(ot)/spd(ot)) may result in serious impairment of respiratory rhythm. We measured breathing in a plethysmographic recording chamber on conscious oscillator mice and used an in situ perfused brainstem preparation to record phrenic nerve activity, as well as membrane properties of respiratory neurones. The deletion of glycinergic inhibition did not result in failure of respiratory rhythm: homozygous mutant oscillator mice continue to generate a disturbed respiratory rhythm until death. Postsynaptic activity and membrane potential trajectories of respiratory neurones revealed a persistence of GABAergic inhibition and changes in respiratory rhythm and pattern generation.
Büsselberg
D
D
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, II. Physiologisches Institut, Humboldtallee 23, D-37073 Göttingen, Germany. dietrich.bberg@uni-essen.de
Bischoff
A M
AM
Becker
K
K
Becker
C M
CM
Richter
D W
DW
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D005998:Glycine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008818:Mice, Neurologic Mutants; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000235:genetics*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010507:Periodicity; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology; D018009:Receptors, Glycine / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D012119:Respiration / Q000235:genetics; D012125:Respiratory Center / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000235:genetics; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D018009:Receptors, Glycine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005998:Glycine