Abstract

The effects of systemic hypercapnia on brainstem metabolism were studied with the [6-14C] glucose autoradiography method. Neuronal pools which are metabolically active take up more [6-14C] glucose and maybe revealed pictorially as darker areas on autoradiograms. Since a high concentration of carbon dioxide stimulates central chemoreceptors and hence enhances respiratory drive, the darker regions on the autoradiograms may represent regions concentrated with respiratory-related neurons. Two discrete regions in the ventrolateral medulla (a column near nucleus ambiguus and a column in the lateral reticular nucleus) appeared dark and were analyzed with an image processing system, which converted intensity values into activity values. The mean activity values between hypercapnic and hypocapnic rats for both regions were detected as being different at a P <0.05 level of significance. These areas may be involved in the generation of respiratory rhythm, and I suspect that respiratory neurons distributed diffusely in the reticular formation may also be essential for respiratory rhythmogenesis. Two structures previously reported to have essential roles in respiratory rhythmogenesis or modulation, nucleus tractus solitarius and nucleus parabrachialis medialis, were not active metabolically. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to respiratory rhythmogenesis.

LLU Discipline

Anatomy

Department

Anatomy

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

John W. Patrickson

Second Advisor

Paul J. McMillan

Third Advisor

Robert L. Schultz

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1988

Date (Title Page)

8-1988

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Brain Stem -- radiography; Carbon Dioxide; Hypercapnia; Respiration

Type

Thesis

Page Count

vii; 72

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

Download

Share

COinS