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Central chemosensitivity, sleep, and wakefulness.

¹Department of Physiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, NH 03756-0001, USA. eugene.nattie@dartmouth.edu

Respiration Physiology

|December 12, 2001

Summary

Multiple brain regions sense carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, influencing breathing. This review explores how these central chemoreceptor sites, like the retrotrapezoid nucleus, provide finely tuned respiratory control.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Respiratory Physiology

Background:

Neurons in the lower brain exhibit chemosensitivity in vitro.
Focal brain acidification in vivo stimulates breathing, confirming central chemoreception.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the functional significance of multiple central chemoreceptor sites.
To evaluate hypotheses regarding the additive effects and arousal-dependent activity of these sites.

Main Methods:

Review of data from unanesthetized rats.
Focus on three key chemoreceptor sites: retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN), medullary raphé, and nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS).

Main Results:

High respiratory sensitivity to arterial CO2 in unanesthetized states results from additive effects of multiple chemoreceptor sites.
Chemoreceptor site effectiveness varies with the state of arousal.

Conclusions:

Central chemoreceptors are organized hierarchically, similar to thermoregulation.
Multiple chemosensitive sites with diverse properties ensure precise and stable control of breathing.

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