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Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) induces long term facilitation of airway‐related vagal preganglionic neuron (AVPN) unit discharge
Author(s) -
KC Prabha,
Wilson Christopher G,
Haxhiu Musa A
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a793
Subject(s) - medicine , airway , bronchoconstriction , hypoxia (environmental) , anesthesia , nucleus ambiguus , facilitation , reflex , neuroscience , central nervous system , chemistry , biology , organic chemistry , oxygen , medulla oblongata
In patients with airway diseases, such as bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive bronchitis, airway caliber undergoes sleep‐induced oscillations associated with hypoxic episodes and enhanced reflex bronchoconstrictive responses. We hypothesized that CIH participate in upregulation of bronchoconstrictive responses. In the present experiment, we studied the effects of CIH on AVPN unit discharge in male ferrets. In experimental animals (exposures to 8% O 2 in N 2 and air at 10 min intervals; 3 hrs/day/7days; 5 units in 4 ferrets) as compared to control (Con) ferrets (6 units in 4 ferrets), frequency of AVPN unit discharge recorded from the rostral nucleus ambiguus region, was significantly higher and lasted longer after the hypoxic episodes (at 5 and 30 mins post hypoxic exposure, as shown in the figure below). We conclude that CIH induces long term facilitation of AVPN unit activity in ferrets. These findings, in patients with airway disorders, could explain worsening of airway functions during sleep associated with CIH. Supported by HL‐50527 and NIH‐NINDS and NCRR U54 NS‐39407.