Pacemaker neuron

Jung, D., and Moore, G. P. (1966) lnterspike-interval fluctuations in Aplysia pacemaker neurons. Biophys. J., 6 411-434. 

Shafer OT, Rosbash M, Truman JW 2002 Sequential nuclear accumulation of the clock proteins Period and Timeless in the pacemaker neurons of Drosophila melanogaster. J Neurosci 22 5946-5954... 

In mammals an approximately 24-h (circadian) rhythm controls behavior and affects many physiological functions. As previously mentioned (p. 1800), the brain has its own rhythms, which originate with pacemaker neurons. The heart beats with another neurally established rhythm. The circadian rhythm has a much longer period and, therefore, seems more mysterious. 

R. E. Pant and M. Kim Mathematical descriptions of a bursting pacemaker neuron by a modification of the Hodgkin-Huxley equations. Biophys.J. 1976,16 227-244. 

S. Homberg, U. Dircksen, H. Rao, K.R., in press). These investigators also found that the position and branching pattern of the PDH-IR cell group located between the lobula and medulla are the same as those proposed for circadian pacemaker neurons in crickets and cockroaches (60). 

Hayashi, H. S. Ishizuka. 1992. Chaotic nature of bursting discharges in the Onchidium pacemaker neuron. J. Theor. Biol. 156 269-91. 

Heyer, C. B., and Lux, H. D., 1976, Control of the delayed outward potassium currents in bursting pacemaker neurones of the snail Helix pomatia, J. Physiol London) 262 349-382. 

Rekling JC, Feldman JL. Pre-Botzinger complex and pacemaker neurons Hypothesized site and kernel for respiratory rhythm generation. Annu Rev Physiol 1998 60 385 05. 

Butera RJ Jr, Rinzel J, Smith JC. Models of respiratory rhythm generation in the pre-Botzinger complex. 11. Populations of coupled pacemaker neurons. J Neurophysiol 1999 81 398-415. 

Sun M-K, Reis DJ. H poxia-activated Ca + currents in pacemaker neurones of rat rostral ventrolateral medulla in vitro. J Physiol (Lond) 1994 476 101-116. 

Depressant effects (other than those from neuronal failure due to energy depletion) may well reflect a residue of mechanisms that have evolved to deal with the peculiar challenge of the perinatal period. Nonspecific effects of brain hypoxia have been described, but more recent work points to direct excitation of medullary neurons by hypoxia as seen in both the sympathoexcitatory neurons of the RVLM and the putative pacemaker neurons of the pre-BdtC. In our view, the role of the excitation of the pre-BdtC in the genesis of gasping has been established and the possibility that hypoxia may modulate eupneic breathing has been raised. 

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