Multiphoton/confocal Ca2+-imaging of inspiratory pre-Bötzinger complex neurons at the rostral or caudal surface of newborn rat brainstem slices.
Breathing is controled by neural networks of the pre-Bötzinger complex (preBötC). We have previously established that multiphoton/confocal Ca(2+) imaging is a potent tool for studying preBötC functions in transversal newborn rat brainstem slices. Here, we used such imaging to show that only 3 often dispersedly located preBötC neurons are typically inspiratory active per transversal imaging plane in slices with rostrally-exposed preBötC contrary to rhythmic optical activity in 11 densely aggregated neurons in slices with the preBötC at the caudal margin. In both slice types, glutamate raises Ca(2+) in >30 cells (both neurons and glia). Factors are discussed that may be involved in the spatial inhomogeneity of superficially located active inspiratory preBötC neurons in both slice types.
Bobocea
Nicoleta
N
Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Ruangkittisakul
Araya
A
Ballanyi
Klaus
K
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D001239:Inhalation; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D017785:Photons; D051381:Rats
D002118:Calcium