Nicholas M. Mellen, PhD - US grants

The isolated neonate rat brainstem/spinal cord preparation will be used to investigate the interaction between neural populations mediating the generation of respiratory rhythm and afferent inputs that reset this rhythm. In this preparation, networks generating respiratory rhythm are fully functional, and their cellular and synaptic properties are readily accessible. Endogenous bursters (cells whose membrane potentials oscillate in the absence of synaptic input) have been identified in this preparation. In some models of respiratory rhythmogenesis, endogenous bursters determine respiratory frequency by their bursting frequency, which is known to be a function of their resting membrane potentials. Preliminary studies show that respiratory rhythm is reset by electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve in this preparation. The effect of stimulation is a function of when it occurs in the respiratory cycle: inspiration is shortened when the stimulus is applied during inspiration, expiration is lengthened when the stimulus is applied early in expiration, and shortened when the stimulus is applied late in expiration. If endogenous bursters determine respiratory frequency, then stimulus-induced resetting of respiratory rhythm must converge on these cells. Monitoring endogenous bursters during stimulus-induced resetting of respiratory rhythm will test this hypothesis, and differentiate between alternative models of the functional circuitry for respiratory rhythmogenesis. Characterizing the cellular and synaptic mechanisms mediating the interaction of centrally generated rhythm and afferent feedback may shed light on the neural basis of respiratory pathologies which arise out of the inappropriate coupling of centrally generated rhythm and sensory feedback. In this preparation the neural basis for such pathologies can be investigated, and novel therapeutic interventions developed.

DESCRIPTION (Applicant's abstract): To investigate the effect of lung afferent signals on central respiratory rhythm generating circuits, an in vitroneonate rat brainstem/spinal cord preparation, retaining the lungs and their vagal innervation is used. In this preparation, essential rhythm generating circuits are retained, and can be modulated by selective activation of lung slowly adapting mechanoreceptors (SAR). In response to physiological pressures, this in vitropreparation replicates critical aspects of SAR-mediated frequency modulation obtained in vivo: 1) Lung inflation during expiration (E) prolongs E and shifts the phase of respiratory rhythm (Breuer-Hering expiratory reflex; BHE). 2) Lung inflation during inspiration (I) shortens I (Breuer-Hering inspiratory reflex; BHI). 3) SAR feedback increases respiratory frequency when lungs are inflated within 1500 ms of I onset. We will: 1) Identify essential rhythmogenic circuits using SAR modulation as a probe. The BHE is blocked by GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline, indicating that CV-mediated inhibition is necessary for the reflex. Because the respiratory rhythm is reset, neurons hyperpolarized during mid-expiratory inflation include rhythmogenic neurons. Neurons excited, unmodulated or weakly hyperpolarized during inflation-induced expiratory lengthening are relay neurons, or neurons providing modulatory input to rhythmogenic circuits. This is a critical functional probe to classify respiratory neurons, which based on their firing patterns and intrinsic properties, have resisted simple, consistent classification. 2) Characterize the cellular and synaptic mechanisms for respiratory frequency modulation. Depending on the stimulus phase, inflation can increase or decrease respiratory frequency. In addition, response to SAR afferent input has both a fast and a slow component. Consistent with these observations is the hypothesis that expiratory lengthening is due to hyperpolarization via a paucisynaptic pathway of a subset of rhythmogenic inspiratory neurons, while the increase in frequency accompanying phasic inflation is due to a reorganization of the respiratory network. We propose experiments to test both components of this hypothesis. 3) Describe how sensory feedback transforms the network properties of medullary circuits. At the network level, reincorporating appropriate sensory feedback dramatically increases respiratory frequency. At the single neuron level, firing patterns of respiratory-modulated neurons are transformed. The observed changes shed light on how rhythmogenic circuits in vitro may function in the intact animal.

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): New evidence indicates that two mechanistically distinct, spatially separate networks can independently generate respiratory rhythm. We propose that the two networks in concert meet the conflicting demands of adaptive-ness and robustness required for the maintenance of blood-gas homeostasis. This new finding puts emphasis on the role of network interactions in rhythm generation. Because preparations currently available allow easy access to neurons but are too reduced (transverse slice preparation), or retain the networks of interest but do not allow easy access to them (en bloc preparation), we have developed a tilted saggital slice preparation that retains the networks present en bloc but affords good access to the networks of interest. We used optical recordings using a membrane permeable Ca++ indicator to determine the best parameters for cutting the slice, and use optical recording techniques routinely to monitor local network activity along the column of respiration modulated neurons in ventrolateral medulla that are exposed at the surface of the saggital slice. We will use optical signals to identify 2 classes of endogenously bursting respiratory neurons for detailed investigation using intracellular recording techniques. These endogenous bursters differ in that one population changes its bursting frequency as a function of membrane potential (voltage-dependent endogenous burster; VDEB), while the other does not (voltage-independent endogenous burster; VIEB). Due to this difference, VDEB cycle period can be altered by transient de- or hyperpolarizing impulses; while VIEBs will be less sensitive to such inputs. This provides a mechanism for our hypothesis; we propose that VDEBs mediate cycle-to-cycle adaptiveness to respiratory rhythm-generating networks, while VIEBs maintain network stability by rapidly restoring baseline rhythm. We propose to test this hypothesis at the network level, by selectively modulating VIEB and VDEB networks, and at the single neuron level, by characterizing perturbation responses in synaptically isolated VIEBs and VDEBs.