Plasticity of brainstem mechanisms of cough.
The cough reflex is a brainstem reflex, consisting of specific sensory afferent nerves which trigger the reflex, by transmitting the sensory input over vagal or laryngeal nerves to a brainstem circuitry which processes and ultimately transforms the sensory input into a complex motor output to generate cough. The first synaptic target for the primary cough-related sensory input is the second-order neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). This position in the reflex pathway and intricate local circuits within the nucleus make it a strategic site where the sensory information can be modified. Plasticity at this synapse will change the nature of the output--exaggerating it, suppressing it or transforming it into some other complex pattern. This review integrates evidence implicating the NTS in exaggerated cough with proof of the concept that NTS neurons undergo plasticity to contribute to an exaggeration of cough.
Bonham
Ann C
AC
Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, 4150 V Street, 1104 PSSB, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. ann.bonham@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Sekizawa
Shin-ichi
S
Chen
Chao-Yin
CY
Joad
Jesse P
JP
D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D003371:Cough; D006801:Humans; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000294:innervation*