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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Electrophysiology on Isolated Brainstem-spinal Cord Preparations from Newborn Rodents Allows Neural Respiratory Network Output Recording
Published on: November 19, 2015
Bioaminergic neuromodulation of respiratory rhythm in vitro
Jean-Charles Viemari1, Andrew K Tryba
1Laboratoire Plasticité et Physio-Pathologie de la Motricité (P3M), UMR 6196-CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, 31 Chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France. viemari@dpm.cnrs-mrs.fr
Abstract:
Bioamines, such as norepinephrine and serotonin are key neurotransmitters implicated in multiple physiological and pathological brain mechanisms. Evolutionarily, the bioaminergic neuromodulatory system is widely distributed throughout the brain and is among the earliest neurotransmitters to arise within the hindbrain. In both vertebrates and invertebrates, monoamines play a critical role in the control of respiration. In mammals, both norepinephrine and serotonin are involved in the maturation of the respiratory network, as well as in the neuromodulation of intrinsic and synaptic properties, that not only differentially alters the activity of individual respiratory neurons but also the activity of the network during normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Here, we review the basic noradrenergic and serotonergic pathways and their impact on the activity of the pre-Bötzinger Complex inspiratory neurons and network activity.
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