From studies of rhythmic behaviors such as walking, flying, swimming, and breathing, a common conceptual organization for the neuronal control of rhythmic movements has emerged. There is now nearly universal agreement that the basic motor pattern underlying rhythmic movements is produced by a network of neurons comprising a central pattern generator. The proposed project is a network, synaptic, and cellular analysis of mechanisms of pattern generation within the mammalian (guinea pig) respiratory system. The major question addressed is: what is the cellular and synaptic basis for generation of the mammalian respiratory rhythm? A combined electrophysiological and histological approach will be taken. The proposed experiments are divided into three major sections. First is characterization of the passive and active integrative properties of medullary neurons in regions of the brain stem known to be involved respiratory control. Second is a morphological analysis of structure of medullary neurons using intracellular staining techniques. Third is mapping and characterizing patterns of synaptic connectivity between medullary respiratory nucleic using multiple intracellular recording techniques. For these purposes we have developed an in vitro brain stem slice preparation and demonstrated the feasibility of multiple intracellular recording. The slice preparation provides an excellent opportunity to study electrical, morphological, and synaptic properties of medullary neurons at a cellular level not possible with other approaches. Such information will be extremely useful in evaluating current or future hypotheses for the cellular basis of pattern generation within the mammalian respiratory system and be of interest to the study of motor systems in general.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL032336-02
Application #
3343703
Study Section
Neurology B Subcommittee 1 (NEUB)
Project Start
1984-01-01
Project End
1986-12-31
Budget Start
1985-01-01
Budget End
1985-12-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Iowa
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
041294109
City
Iowa City
State
IA
Country
United States
Zip Code
52242
Cleland, C L; Getting, P A (1993) Respiratory-modulated and phrenic afferent-driven neurons in the cervical spinal cord (C4-C6) of the fluorocarbon-perfused guinea pig. Exp Brain Res 93:307-11
Johnson, S M; Getting, P A (1992) Excitatory effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone on neurons within the nucleus ambiguus of adult guinea pigs. Brain Res 590:1-5
Johnson, S M; Getting, P A (1991) Electrophysiological properties of neurons within the nucleus ambiguus of adult guinea pigs. J Neurophysiol 66:744-61
Haddad, G G; Donnelly, D F; Getting, P A (1990) Biophysical properties of hypoglossal neurons in vitro: intracellular studies in adult and neonatal rats. J Appl Physiol 69:1509-17
Richerson, G B; Getting, P A (1990) Preservation of integrative function in a perfused guinea pig brain. Brain Res 517:7-18
Haddad, G G; Getting, P A (1989) Repetitive firing properties of neurons in the ventral region of nucleus tractus solitarius. In vitro studies in adult and neonatal rat. J Neurophysiol 62:1213-24
Getting, P A (1989) Emerging principles governing the operation of neural networks. Annu Rev Neurosci 12:185-204
Johnson, S M; Getting, P A (1988) Phrenic motor nucleus of the guinea pig: dendrites are bundled without clustering of cell somas. Exp Neurol 101:208-20
Dekin, M S; Getting, P A; Johnson, S M (1987) In vitro characterization of neurons in the ventral part of the nucleus tractus solitarius. I. Identification of neuronal types and repetitive firing properties. J Neurophysiol 58:195-214
Dekin, M S; Getting, P A (1987) In vitro characterization of neurons in the ventral part of the nucleus tractus solitarius. II. Ionic basis for repetitive firing patterns. J Neurophysiol 58:215-29

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