Central respiratory command and microglia: An early-life partnership

Thoby-Brisson M(1).

Author information:
(1)Institut de Neurosciences Cognitives et Intégratives d’Aquitaine, CNRS UMR
5287, Université de Bordeaux, 146 Rue Léo Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, France.
Electronic address: mailto:.

Microglia, brain-resident macrophages, are key players in brain development,
regulating synapse density, shaping neural circuits, contributing to plasticity,
and maintaining nervous tissue homeostasis. These functions are ensured from
early prenatal development until maturity, in normal and pathological states of
the central nervous system. Microglia dysfunction can be involved in several
neurodevelopmental disorders, some of which are associated with respiratory
deficits. Breathing is a rhythmic motor behavior generated and controlled by
hindbrain neuronal networks. The operation of the central respiratory command
relies on the proper development of these rhythmogenic networks, formation of
their appropriate interactions, and their lifelong constant adaptation to
physiological needs. This review, focusing exclusively on the perinatal period,
outlines recent advances obtained in rodents in determining the roles of
microglia in the establishment and functioning of the respiratory networks and
their involvement in certain pathologies.

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Conflict of interest statement: Declaration of competing interest The authors
declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal
relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this
paper.

Auteurs Bordeaux Neurocampus