title: Comparison of NMDA modulation of breathing and NR1 expression in medullary nuclei of weanling male and female rats.
abstract: We investigated effects of dextromethophan (DXM), an NMDA receptor antagonist, on ventilation and metabolism in unanesthetized male and female weanling rats, and densities of neurons positive for the NR1 subunit in four medullary nuclei. Relative to saline, DXM treatment decreased oxygen consumption 12% in males and increased it 9% in females (interaction, P<0.05). DXM compared to saline decreased frequency of breathing significantly more in females than males when exposed to hypercapnia. During hypoxia, DXM relative to saline significantly decreased frequency and minute ventilation in males and increased these variables in females. NR1 positive neuron densities were significantly greater in females than males in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), commissural nucleus of the NTS and hypoglossal nucleus due to higher counts. Few sex differences were noted in the dorsal vagal motor nucleus. Thus, in weanling rats NMDA receptor modulation of breathing is sex specific, as are the densities of NR1 positive neurons in medullary nuclei associated with control of breathing.
authors.affiliation: Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota, 414 East Clark Street, Vermillion, SD 57069, United States. Evelyn.Schlenker@usd.edu <Evelyn.Schlenker@usd.edu>
authors.forename: Evelyn H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Schlenker
authors.forename: Susan N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D003915:Dextromethorphan / Q000494:pharmacology; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007002:Hypoglossal Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000187:drug effects*; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D017552:Solitary Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D014059:Tongue / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; C409466:NR1 NMDA receptor; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D003915:Dextromethorphan