Huckstepp, Robert T. R., Bihi, Rachid Id, Eason, Robert, Spyer, K. Michael, Dicke, Nikolai, Willecke, Klaus, Marina, Nephtali, Gourine, Alexander V. and Dale, Nicholas. (2010) Connexin hemichannel-mediated CO2-dependent release of ATP in the medulla oblongata contributes to central respiratory chemosensitivity. Journal of Physiology, Vol.588 (No.20). pp. 3901-3920. ISSN 0022-3751

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Arterial P-CO2, a major determinant of breathing, is detected by chemosensors located in the brainstem. These are important for maintaining physiological levels of CO2 in the blood and brain, yet the mechanisms by which the brain senses CO2 remain controversial. As ATP release at the ventral surface of the brainstem has been causally linked to the adaptive changes in ventilation in response to hypercapnia, we have studied the mechanisms of CO2-dependent ATP release in slices containing the ventral surface of the medulla oblongata. We found that CO2-dependent ATP release occurs in the absence of extracellular acidification and correlates directly with the level of P-CO2. ATP release is independent of extracellular Ca2+ and may occur via the opening of a gap junction hemichannel. As agents that act on connexin channels block this release, but compounds selective for pannexin-1 have no effect, we conclude that a connexin hemichannel is involved in CO2-dependent ATP release. We have used molecular, genetic and immunocytochemical techniques to demonstrate that in the medulla oblongata connexin 26 (Cx26) is preferentially expressed near the ventral surface. The leptomeninges, subpial astrocytes and astrocytes ensheathing penetrating blood vessels at the ventral surface of the medulla can be loaded with dye in a CO2-dependent manner, suggesting that gating of a hemichannel is involved in ATP release. This distribution of CO2-dependent dye loading closely mirrors that of Cx26 expression and colocalizes to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells. In vivo, blockers with selectivity for Cx26 reduce hypercapnia-evoked ATP release and the consequent adaptive enhancement of breathing. We therefore propose that Cx26-mediated release of ATP in response to changes in P-CO2 is an important mechanism contributing to central respiratory chemosensitivity.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry Q Science > QP Physiology
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Life Sciences (2010- ) > Biological Sciences ( -2010)
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Physiology
Publisher:	Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
ISSN:	0022-3751
Official Date:	15 October 2010
Volume:	Vol.588
Number:	No.20
Number of Pages:	20
Page Range:	pp. 3901-3920
Identification Number:	10.1113/jphysiol.2010.192088
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder:	German Research Association, Juergen Manchot Foundation
Grant number:	SFB 645, B2
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/4969

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Actions (login required)

View Item