allatostatin-1 and Apnea

Delineating neurons that underlie complex behaviors is of fundamental interest. Using adeno-associated virus 2, we expressed the Drosophila allatostatin receptor in somatostatin (Sst)-expressing neurons in the preBötzinger Complex (preBötC). Rapid silencing of these neurons in awake rats induced a persistent apnea without any respiratory movements to rescue their breathing. We hypothesize that breathing requires preBötC Sst neurons and that their sudden depression can lead to serious, even fatal, respiratory failure.

Topics: Animals; Apnea; Biological Clocks; Biomarkers; Dependovirus; Drosophila; Drosophila Proteins; Genetic Vectors; Green Fluorescent Proteins; Nerve Net; Neural Inhibition; Neurons; Neuropeptides; Periodicity; Rats; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Receptors, Neurokinin-1; Receptors, Neuropeptide; Respiratory Center; Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; Somatostatin; Transfection; Wakefulness