O papel da melatonina no hipotálamo lateral/área perifornicial (LH/PFA) na resposta ventilatória à hipercapnia em ratos durante o sono e vigília
Abstract
The lateral hypothalamus and perifornicial area (LH/PFA) contain neurons involved in the
central hypercapnic ventilatory response. Orexinergic neurons have been attributed to the CO2
chemosensitive function of this region, but much still needs to be investigated regarding to
local neurochemical mechanisms, in LH/PFA, in the modulation of the central hypercapnic
chemoreflex. Evidence points to the involvement of melatonin in the modulation of the
activity of LH/PFA neurons, however the possible participation of melatonin, acting on
LH/PFA, in the central hypercapnic chemoreflex had not yet been investigated. Thus, we
recorded pulmonary ventilation, EEG, EMG and body temperature (Tb) in non-anesthetized
rats, in a whole-body plethysmography system and studied the effects of the microinjection of
melatonin (20mM) into the LH/PFA of conscious rats on ventilation in room air and in 7%
CO2. The microinjection of melatonin increased the CO2 ventilatory responses of rats during
wakefulness. Our data suggest that melatonin in the LH/PFA contributes to the hypercapnic
ventilatory response in unanesthetized rats, in a state-dependent manner.
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