Role of neuronal NMDA and non-NMDA glutamate receptors in medial vestibular nucleus in the regulation of respiratory rhythmogenesis in newborn rats in vitro.

N L Tyurin

Index: Bull. Exp. Biol. Med. 148(2) , 167-70, (2009)

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Abstract

We studied isolated pontobulbospinal preparations from newborn rat brain. In the early postnatal period, the rostral part of the medial vestibular nucleus produces a potent inhibitory effect on neuronal structures of the bulbar respiratory center via the glutamatergic system. Microinjection of L-glutamate (50 mmol/liter) into the rostral part of the vestibular nucleus completely blocks respiratory rhythmogenesis in 0-1-day-old rat pups and reduced the frequency of generation of inspiratory discharges in 2-3-day-old rats from 8.42+/-0.68 to 2.68+/-0.32 min(-1). It was found that the leading role in the mechanism of glutamatergic modulation of the respiratory rhythmogenesis by neurons of the medial vestibular nucleus is played by NMDA and, to a lesser extent, non-NMDA glutamate receptors.