Current ideas on central chemoreception by neurons and glial cells in the retrotrapezoid nucleus.
Central chemoreception is the mechanism by which CO2/pH-sensitive neurons (i.e., chemoreceptors) regulate breathing in response to changes in tissue pH. A region of the brain stem called the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) is thought to be an important site of chemoreception (23), and recent evidence suggests that RTN chemoreception involves two interrelated mechanisms: H+-mediated activation of pH-sensitive neurons (38) and purinergic signaling (19), possibly from pH-sensitive glial cells. A third, potentially important, aspect of RTN chemoreception is the regulation of blood flow, which is an important determinate of tissue pH and consequently chemoreceptor activity. It is well established in vivo that changes in cerebral blood flow can profoundly affect the chemoreflex (2); e.g., limiting blood flow by vasoconstriction acidifies tissue pH and increases the ventilatory response to CO2, whereas vasodilation can wash out metabolically produced CO2 from tissue to increase tissue pH and decrease the stimulus at chemoreceptors. In this review, we will summarize the defining characteristics of pH-sensitive neurons and discuss potential contributions of pH-sensitive glial cells as both a source of purinergic drive to pH-sensitive neurons and a modulator of vasculature tone.
Mulkey
Daniel K
DK
Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, 75 N. Eagleville Rd. Unit 3156, Storrs, CT 06269, USA. daniel.mulkey@uconn.edu
Wenker
Ian C
IC
Kréneisz
Orsolya
O
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate