The lamprey respiratory network: Some evolutionary aspects

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Comparative Physiology
• Respiratory Control

Background:

• Breathing relies on complex rhythm-generating neural networks.
• Understanding these networks is crucial for respiratory control research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review respiratory rhythm generation in vertebrates.
• To detail neuromodulation of lamprey respiration by neural mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of vertebrate respiratory rhythm generators.
• Examination of neural mechanisms in the lamprey paratrigeminal respiratory group (pTRG).

Main Results:

• The lamprey pTRG, a respiratory rhythm generator, shows similarities to the mammalian preBötzinger complex.
• Glutamate, GABA, glycine, opioids, substance P, acetylcholine, and serotonin modulate lamprey respiration.
• Astrocytes and exogenous ATP influence the respiratory pattern.

Conclusions:

• Key characteristics of respiratory rhythm generating networks are conserved across vertebrate evolution.
• The lamprey serves as a valuable model for studying fundamental respiratory control mechanisms.