Breathing is a rhythmic behavior that requires organized contractions of respiratory effector muscles. This behavior must adapt to constantly changing conditions in order to ensure homeostasis, proper body oxygenation, and CO2/pH regulation. Respiratory rhythmogenesis is controlled by neural networks located in the brainstem. One area considered to be essential for generating the inspiratory phase of the respiratory rhythm is the preBötzinger complex (preBötC). Rhythmogenesis emerges from this network through the interplay between the activation of intrinsic cellular properties (pacemaker properties) and intercellular synaptic connections. Respiratory activity continuously changes under the impact of numerous modulatory substances depending on organismal needs and environmental conditions. The preBötC network has been shown to become active during the last third of gestation. But only little is known regarding the modulation of inspiratory rhythmicity at embryonic stages and even less on a possible role of pacemaker neurons in this functional flexibility during the prenatal period. By combining electrophysiology and calcium imaging performed on embryonic brainstem slice preparations, we provide evidence showing that embryonic inspiratory pacemaker neurons are already intrinsically sensitive to neuromodulation and external conditions (i.e., temperature) affecting respiratory network activity, suggesting a potential role of pacemaker neurons in mediating rhythm adaptation to modulatory stimuli in the embryo.
Pubmed ID: 27239348 RIS Download
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THIS RESOURCE IS NO LONGER IN SERVICE, documented on July 16, 2013. The NeuroLOG consortium is addressing: *Management and access of partly structured data, heterogeneous and distributed in an open environment. *Access control and protection of private medical data. *Control of workflows implied in complex computing process on grid infrastructures. *Extraction and quantification of relevant parameters for different pathologies: Multiple sclerosis, Brain Vascular Stroke, Brain tumors Four application pipelines have been proposed in the context of the project. The pipelines are formalized using the Scufl data flow language. *Multiple Sclerosis image analysis pipelines *Brain Stroke application pipeline (from GIN) *Stroke / tumours Anacom application pipeline (from IFR49) Different softwares developed and/or used in this project are presented.
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