Faculty Collaboration Database

Anatomic changes in multiple brainstem nuclei after incremental, near-complete neurotoxic destruction of the pre-Bötzinger Complex in adult goats. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2011 Jan 31;175(1):1-11

Date

07/06/2010

Pubmed ID

20601204

DOI

10.1016/j.resp.2010.06.010

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-78650169045 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   7 Citations

Abstract

Abrupt, bilateral destruction of the pre-Bötzinger Complex (preBötC) leads to terminal apnea in unanesthetized goats and rats. In contrast, respiratory rhythm and pattern and arterial blood gases in goats during wakefulness and sleep are normal after incremental (over a month) destruction of > 90% of the preBötC. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the difference in effects between abrupt and incremental destruction of the preBötC are a result of time-dependent plasticity, which manifests as anatomic changes at sites within the respiratory network. Accordingly, we report data from histological analyses comparing the brainstems of control goats, and goats that had undergone bilateral, incremental, ibotenic acid (IA)-induced preBötC lesioning. A major focus was on the parafacial respiratory group/retrotrapezoid nucleus (pFRG/RTN) and the pontine respiratory group (PRG), which are sites thought to contribute to respiratory rhythmogenesis. We also studied the facial (FN), rostral nucleus ambiguus (NA), medullary raphé (MRN), hypoglossal (HN), and the dorsal motor vagal (DMV) nuclei. Neuronal counts, count region area (mm²), and neuronal densities were calculated using computer-assisted analyses and/or manual microscopy to compare control and preBötC-lesioned animals. We found that within the ventral and lateral medulla 2mm rostral to the caudal pole of the FN (presumed pFRG/RTN), there were 25% and 65% more (P < 0.001) neurons, respectively, in preBötC-lesioned compared to control goats. Lesioned goats also showed 14% and 13% more (P < 0.001) neurons in the HN and medial parabrachialis nucleus, but 46%, 28%, 7%, and 17% fewer (P < 0.001) neurons in the FN, NA, DMV, and Kölliker-Fuse nuclei, respectively. In the remaining sites analyzed, there were no differences between groups. We conclude that anatomic changes at multiple sites within the respiratory network may contribute to the time-dependent plasticity in breathing following incremental and near-complete destruction of the preBötC.

Author List

Neumueller S, Hodges MR, Krause K, Marshall B, Bonis J, Qian B, Pan LG, Forster HV

Authors

Hubert V. Forster PhD Professor in the Physiology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Matthew R. Hodges PhD Professor in the Physiology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Analysis of Variance
Animals
Cell Count
Cell Nucleus
Goats
Ibotenic Acid
Medulla Oblongata
Nerve Net
Neurons
Neurotoxins
Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted
Phosphopyruvate Hydratase
Receptor, Muscarinic M1
Receptors, Neurokinin-1
Respiratory Center
Time Factors
Wakefulness