Neurokinin-1 receptor-expressing cells of the ventral respiratory group are functionally heterogeneous and predominantly glutamatergic.
According to a recent theory (Gray et al., 1999) the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R)-immunoreactive (ir) neurons of the ventral respiratory group (VRG) are confined to the pre-Bötzinger complex (pre-BötC) and might be glutamatergic interneurons that drive respiratory rhythmogenesis. In this study we tested whether the NK1R-ir neurons of the VRG are glutamatergic. We also examined whether different groups of NK1R-ir neurons coexist in the VRG on the basis of whether these cells contain preproenkephalin (PPE) mRNA or project to the spinal cord. NK1R immunoreactivity was found in two populations of VRG neurons that are both predominantly glutamatergic because most of them contained vesicular glutamate transporter 2 mRNA (77 +/- 9%; n = 3). A group of small fusiform neurons (somatic cross section: 91 +/- 3.6 microm2) that has neither PPE mRNA nor spinal projections is primarily restricted to the pre-BötC. These cells may be the interneurons the destruction of which produces massive disruptions of the respiratory rhythm (Gray et al., 2001). The rest of the NK1R-ir neurons of the VRG are multipolar, are larger (somatic cross section: 252 +/- 15 microm2), and express high levels of PPE mRNA. Some of these cells located in the rostral half of the rostral VRG project to the spinal cord (C4 or T3). Using electrophysiological methods, we showed that these bulbospinal NK1R-ir neurons are slowly discharging inspiratory-augmenting neurons, suggesting that they may control phrenic or intercostal motor neurons. In summary, NK1R-expressing cells of the VRG are a heterogeneous group of predominantly glutamatergic neurons that include subpopulations of respiratory premotor neurons.
Guyenet
Patrice G
PG
Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA. pgg@virginia.edu
Sevigny
Charles P
CP
Weston
Matthew C
MC
Stornetta
Ruth L
RL
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001710:Biotin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009474:Neurons / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010507:Periodicity; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012119:Respiration; D012125:Respiratory Center / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D050599:Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 2; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004745:Enkephalins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1; C493475:Slc17a6 protein, rat; D050599:Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 2; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D018698:Glutamic Acid; C093086:biotinamide; D001710:Biotin; C033660:preproenkephalin