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The horizontal brainstem slice: a novel preparation to study cellular interactions of respiratory rhythmogenesis
Author(s) -
Anderson Tatiana,
Garcia Alfredo J.,
Ramirez JanMarino
Publication year - 2013
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.27.1_supplement.1214.9
Subject(s) - brainstem , medulla , neuroscience , respiratory system , anatomy , slice preparation , biology , decussation , central nervous system
The rhythmically active transverse slice containing the preBötzinger complex (preBötC; Smith et al. 1991) has led to a wealth of detailed cellular and systems level insights into respiratory rhythm generation. However, the preBötC is only one of several interacting respiratory networks that extend along the entire ventral medulla. Prior to this report, the only in vitro slice approach capable of preserving a larger portion of the ventral respiratory column (VRC) is the so called semi‐sagittal slice (Paton et al. 1994). This preparation, however, isolates only one side of a normally tightly coupled, bilaterally organized network. Here we report a novel horizontal slice preparation (P6–10 CD1 neonatal mice) that: (1) retains the entire extent of the medullary VRC; (2) preserves inspiratory rhythmogenesis from the preBötC throughout the rostral‐caudal axis; and (3) maintains bilateral connectivity within the VRC. Ongoing experiments characterize the discharge patterns of respiratory neurons along the in vitro VRC while examining the effects of gas exchange and neuromodulation on rhythmogenesis. Differences between the characteristics of the horizontal and the more conventional transverse preBötC slice provide important functional insights into the interactions between the preBötC and other neuronal networks distributed throughout the VRC. Supported by funding from the NIH.