| First Author | Gestreau C | Year | 2010 |
| Journal | Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A | Volume | 107 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 2325-30 |
| PubMed ID | 20133877 | Mgi Jnum | J:157526 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:4431091 | Doi | 10.1073/pnas.0910059107 |
| Citation | Gestreau C, et al. (2010) Task2 potassium channels set central respiratory CO2 and O2 sensitivity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107(5):2325-30 |
| abstractText | Task2 K(+) channel expression in the central nervous system is surprisingly restricted to a few brainstem nuclei, including the retrotrapezoid (RTN) region. All Task2-positive RTN neurons were lost in mice bearing a Phox2b mutation that causes the human congenital central hypoventilation syndrome. In plethysmography, Task2(-/-) mice showed disturbed chemosensory function with hypersensitivity to low CO(2) concentrations, leading to hyperventilation. Task2 probably is needed to stabilize the membrane potential of chemoreceptive cells. In addition, Task2(-/-) mice lost the long-term hypoxia-induced respiratory decrease whereas the acute carotid-body-mediated increase was maintained. The lack of anoxia-induced respiratory depression in the isolated brainstem-spinal cord preparation suggested a central origin of the phenotype. Task2 activation by reactive oxygen species generated during hypoxia could silence RTN neurons, thus contributing to respiratory depression. These data identify Task2 as a determinant of central O(2) chemoreception and demonstrate that this phenomenon is due to the activity of a small number of neurons located at the ventral medullary surface. |
