title: Emergence of the pre-Bötzinger respiratory rhythm generator in the mouse embryo.
abstract: To obtain insights into the emergence of rhythmogenic circuits supporting respiration, we monitored spontaneous activities in isolated brainstem and medullary transverse slice preparations of mouse embryos, combining electrophysiological and calcium imaging techniques. At embryonic day 15 (E15), in a restricted region ventral to the nucleus ambiguus, we observed the onset of a sustained high-frequency (HF) respiratory-like activity in addition to a preexisting low-frequency activity having a distinct initiation site, spatial extension, and susceptibility to gap junction blockers. At the time of its onset, the HF generator starts to express the neurokinin 1 receptor, is connected bilaterally, requires active AMPA/kainate glutamatergic synapses, and is modulated by substance P and the mu-opioid agonist D-Ala2-N-Me-Phe4-Glycol5-enkephalin. We conclude that a rhythm generator sharing the properties of the neonatal pre-Bötzinger complex becomes active during E15 in mice.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Neurobiologie Génétique et Intégrative, Institut Alfred Fessard, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 91198 Gif sur Yvette, France.
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thoby-Brisson
authors.forename: Jean-Baptiste
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Trinh
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Champagnat
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fortin
mesh_terms: D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione / Q000494:pharmacology; D000367:Age Factors; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000166:cytology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)- / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D010507:Periodicity; D011247:Pregnancy; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D012119:Respiration; D012125:Respiratory Center / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*; D013373:Substance P / Q000494:pharmacology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D013373:Substance P; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione; D002772:Cholera Toxin; D002118:Calcium