Various neuromuscular diseases result in impaired cough (dystussia). Disorders of these airway protective behaviors increase pulmonary infection due to aspiration, the leading cause of death in neuromuscular disease. Mortality rates of aspiration pneumonia - present in over half of long-term care residents - can approach 40%. Defense of the airway is achieved through coordination of multiple protective behaviors by brain circuits that remain incompletely understood. A contemporary data-driven computational model incorporating the brainstem network for breathing can rapidly reconfigure to produce the three phases a cough motor pattern: inspiration, compression, and expulsion. However, critical elements of airway protection cannot be explained. Based on motivating preliminary data and network simulations, we propose that a circuit in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and dorsal medulla regulates phase timing and respiratory muscle drive during paroxysmal coughs and exerts a command function over the brainstem respiratory control system to coordinate coughing and breathing. The project has 3 Specific Aims: (1) Determine dynamic behavior- dependent organization of NTS circuits during the expression of airway protective behaviors. (2) Determine functional connectivity between NTS and VRC neurons during expression of coughing. (3) Reconstruct our respiratory system model to incorporate regulation of both airway protective reflexes and breathing. Our unique approach, building upon experimental interrogation of the NTS region, incorporates multi-array recording technologies in an animal model system that generates defensive behaviors in response to physiologically relevant airway perturbations. We anticipate that the project will lead to: a) a new, predictive model of airway protection will be produced, b) we will understand functional relationships between conditionally active cells and t-E NTS neurons in producing cough, and c) we will identify critical NTS to parafacial/VRC functional relationships that regulate cough and breathing. This new knowledge will provide a critical step in understanding the neurogenesis of cough and how this behavior is controlled to protect the airway.

Public Health Relevance

A variety of neuromuscular diseases result in impaired cough (dystussia) and/or impaired swallow function (dysphagia). Impairment of these airway protective behaviors results in an increase in pulmonary infections due to aspiration. Pulmonary complications related to inadequate airway defense are the leading cause of death in patients with neurological diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01HL131716-01A1S1
Application #
9458386
Study Section
Program Officer
Laposky, Aaron D
Project Start
2017-09-01
Project End
2020-11-30
Budget Start
2017-09-01
Budget End
2017-11-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Florida
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Veterinary Medicine
DUNS #
969663814
City
Gainesville
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
32611
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