Hindbrain interneurons and axon guidance signaling critical for breathing.
Nat Neurosci. 2010-08-02; 13(9): 1066-1074
DOI: 10.1038/nn.2622
Read on PubMed
1. Nat Neurosci. 2010 Sep;13(9):1066-74. doi: 10.1038/nn.2622. Epub 2010 Aug 2.
Hindbrain interneurons and axon guidance signaling critical for breathing.
Bouvier J(1), Thoby-Brisson M, Renier N, Dubreuil V, Ericson J, Champagnat J,
Pierani A, Chédotal A, Fortin G.
Author information:
(1)Institut de Neurobiologie Alfred Fessard, CNRS UPR 3294, Gif-sur-Yvette,
France.
Comment in
Nat Neurosci. 2010 Sep;13(9):1046.
Breathing is a bilaterally synchronous behavior that relies on a respiratory
rhythm generator located in the brainstem. An essential component of this
generator is the preBötzinger complex (preBötC), which paces inspirations. Little
is known about the developmental origin of the interneuronal populations forming
the preBötC oscillator network. We found that the homeobox gene Dbx1 controls the
fate of glutamatergic interneurons required for preBötC rhythm generation in the
mouse embryo. We also found that a conditional inactivation in Dbx1-derived cells
of the roundabout homolog 3 (Robo3) gene, which is necessary for axonal midline
crossing, resulted in left-right de-synchronization of the preBötC oscillator.
Together, these findings identify Dbx1-derived interneurons as the core
rhythmogenic elements of the preBötC oscillator and indicate that Robo3-dependent
guidance signaling in these cells is required for bilaterally synchronous
activity.
DOI: 10.1038/nn.2622
PMID: 20680010 [Indexed for MEDLINE]