Confocal calcium imaging analysis of respiratory-related burst activity in the parafacial region
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Quantification of the Respiratory Burst Response as an Indicator of Innate Immune Health in Zebrafish
Published on: September 12, 2013
Hiroshi Onimaru1, Shiro Nakamura2, Keiko Ikeda3
1Department of Physiology, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan.
Abstract:
The parafacial respiratory group (pFRG) surrounding the ventrolateral part of the facial motor nucleus is one of respiratory rhythm generators that consists of pre-inspiratory (Pre-I) neurons. Previous studies showed that most of the Pre-I neurons locating in the Phox2b cluster of the rostral ventral medulla were also Phox2b positive and intrinsically CO2 sensitive. However, it is not clear what percentage of Phox2b-expressing cells in the pFRG of the ventral medulla are Pre-I neurons. To address this issue, we analyzed the activity of Phox2b-positive cells by calcium imaging using a confocal laser microscope in transgenic rats in which Phox2b-positive cells expressed EYFP. We found that more than 60% of the EYFP/Phox2b-positive cells showed Pre-I neuron-like rhythmic burst activity in the parafacial region of newborn rat.
Related Concept Videos
IR Frequency Region: Fingerprint Region
Anatomy of Respiratory System II: Lower Respiratory Tract
The Larynx
It is located between the pharynx and the trachea, acts as a passageway for air, and hosts several critical structures, such as the epiglottis, vocal cords, and glottis. The epiglottis acts as a gateway, guiding food to the...
The Respiratory System
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT
Anatomy of Respiratory System I: Upper Respiratory Tract
Nose and nasal cavity
The nose and nasal cavity represent the main external openings of the respiratory tract....
The Eukaryotic Promoter Region

