Abstract
This mini review highlights recent research on the control of breathing that places
gliotransmission and purinergic signaling as core drivers to the respiratory circuits
in the brainstem. These elements underpin transduction of hypercapnia, hypoxia and
acid sensing at central and peripheral chemoreceptors. The processes involve propagation
of an extracellular ATP signal and associated P2 receptor activation, where ATP acts
on both the glial cells and the associated output cells in the sensor complex — the
respiratory rhythm generator neurons and the ventral inspiratory pre-motor neurons.
At the peripheral carotid chemoreceptor, the hypoxia sensor likely involves the gasotransmitter
H2S, complemented by purinergic neurotransmission.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 18, 2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
