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Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 296: R763-R773, 2009. First published January 14, 2009; doi:10.1152/ajpregu.90769.2008
0363-6119/09 $8.00
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EXERCISE AND RESPIRATORY PHYSIOLOGY

Characterization of the chemosensitive response of individual solitary complex neurons from adult rats

Nicole L. Nichols,1 Daniel K. Mulkey,2 Katherine A. Wilkinson,3 Frank L. Powell,3 Jay B. Dean,4 and Robert W. Putnam1

1Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Physiology, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, Ohio; and 2Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs-Mansfield, Connecticut; 3Division of Physiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California; and 4Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida

Submitted 3 September 2008 ; accepted in final form 12 January 2009

We studied the CO2/H+-chemosensitive responses of individual solitary complex (SC) neurons from adult rats by simultaneously measuring the intracellular pH (pHi) and electrical responses to hypercapnic acidosis (HA). SC neurons were recorded using the blind whole cell patch-clamp technique and loading the soma with the pH-sensitive dye pyranine through the patch pipette. We found that SC neurons from adult rats have a lower steady-state pHi than SC neurons from neonatal rats. In the presence of chemical and electrical synaptic blockade, adult SC neurons have firing rate responses to HA (percentage of neurons activated or inhibited and the magnitude of response as determined by the chemosensitivity index) that are similar to SC neurons from neonatal rats. They also have a typical response to isohydric hypercapnia, including decreased {Delta}pHi, followed by pHi recovery, and increased firing rate. Thus, the chemosensitive response of SC neurons from adults is similar to the chemosensitive response of SC neurons from neonatal rats. Because our findings for adults are similar to previously reported values for neurons from neonatal rats, we conclude that intrinsic chemosensitivity is established early in development for SC neurons and is maintained throughout adulthood.

nucleus of the solitary tract; intracellular pH; membrane potential; ventilation; chemosensitivity; gap junctions


Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: R. Putnam, Dept. of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Physiology, Wright State Univ., Boonshoft School of Medicine, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH 45435 USA (e-mail: robert.putnam{at}wright.edu)






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