Brainstem amino acid neurotransmitters and ventilatory response to hypoxia in piglets.
The ventilatory response to hypoxia is influenced by the balance between inhibitory (GABA, glycine, and taurine) and excitatory (glutamate and aspartate) brainstem amino acid (AA) neurotransmitters. To assess the effects of AA in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) on the ventilatory response to hypoxia at 1 and 2 wk of age, inhibitory and excitatory AA were sampled by microdialysis in unanesthetized and chronically instrumented piglets. Microdialysis samples from the NTS area were collected at 5-min intervals and minute ventilation (VE), arterial blood pressure (ABP), and arterial blood gases (ABG) were measured while the animals were in quiet sleep. A biphasic ventilatory response to hypoxia was observed in wk 1 and 2, but the decrease in VE at 10 and 15 min was more marked in wk 1. This was associated with an increase in inhibitory AA during hypoxia in wk 1. Excitatory AA levels were elevated during hypoxia in wk 1 and 2. Changes in ABP, pH, and ABG during hypoxia were not different between weeks. These data suggest that the larger depression in the ventilatory response to hypoxia observed in younger piglets is mediated by predominance of the inhibitory AA neurotransmitters, GABA, glycine, and taurine, in the NTS.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136, USA.
Dorothy A
DA
Hehre
Carlos J
CJ
Devia
Eduardo
E
Bancalari
Cleide
C
Suguihara
D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism; D006339:Heart Rate; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017551:Microdialysis; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D012125:Respiratory Center / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D017552:Solitary Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013552:Swine; D013654:Taurine / Q000378:metabolism; D013990:Tidal Volume; D013997:Time Factors; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D000596:Amino Acids; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D013654:Taurine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D010100:Oxygen; D005998:Glycine