Neurochemical Acclimatization to Hypoxia in the Central Nervous System

Neurochemical Acclimatization to Hypoxia in the Central Nervous System 

Neurophysiological and neuroanatomical studies have selectively labeled the central projections of chemosensitive libers caudally to the obex within the NTS in cats and rats, whereas barosensory libers project rostral to the obex (57-59). The NTS, which contains the premotor neurons of the dorsal respiratory group (60), is now recognized as the major projection site of chemosensory libers. Neurons of caudal NTS with carotid chemoreceptor inputs project onto the ventrolateral medulla (61) that contains the premotor neurons of the ventral respiratory group (60). 

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Both medullary eateeholaminergie neurons and, to a lesser extent, the carotid sinus nerve endings (74,75) contribute to the pool of tyrosine hydroxylase protein present in caudal NTS. Catecholamines released from both compartments, i.e., dopamine from the chemosensory nerve endings and norepinephrine from A2 cells, respectively, have been implicated in the functional responses to hypoxia. 

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