Meeting Abstract

S1.8  Tuesday, Jan. 4  Neuronal Control of Breathing: Rhythms within Rhythms, Networks within Networks. RAMIREZ, JM*; ZANELLA, S; GARCIA III, AJ; KOCH, H; DOI, A; University of Washington, Seattle; Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle; Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle; Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle; Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle nino1@uw.edu

The neuronal control of breathing depends on complex network interactions involving neurons distributed throughout the mammalian nervous system. Yet, only one network, the so called preBötzinger complex, is both essential for respiratory rhythm generation as well as sufficient to generate respiratory rhythmic activity when isolated from the rest of the nervous system. This rhythm generating network localized within the ventrolateral medulla contains subnetworks with distinct synaptic and intrinsic membrane properties that give rise to different types of respiratory activities including normal breathing, sigh and gasping. Under normal oxygenated conditions, a fast breathing and slow sigh rhythm are generated concurrently, while during conditions of low oxygenation, the network reconfigures to generate a gasping activity. The respiratory rhythm generating network is also an important integrator of modulatory and sensory inputs that imbue the network with the important ability to adapt to changes in the behavioral, metabolic and developmental conditions of the organism. This presentation summarizes our current understanding of these interactions and relates the emerging concepts to insights gained in other rhythm generating networks.