Excitable Cells Carotid Body Glomus Cell as a Primary Example

2 Excitable Cells Carotid Body Glomus Cell as a Primary Example 

Oxygen sensors ofthe peripheral and central nervous systems 

A schematic representation of how a decrease in oxygen tension (hypoxia) may affect carotid body glomus cell function. In the mitochondrial model, hypoxia affects either reactive oxygen species (ROS) production or ATP production of mitochondria. Both of these may affect the outward flux of potassium via the potassium channel with the downstream effects shown in the diagram. In the membrane model, the ROS production by membrane-bound molecules (cytochromes) is oxygen sensitive, and thereby affected by hypoxia. Thus, these membrane-bound molecules function as proximal oxygen sensors and cause effects on potassium channels with the downstream effects described in the figure and in the text 

---