Key Points: In the rat nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), activation of astrocytic proteinase-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) receptors leads to potentiation of neuronal synaptic activity by two mechanisms, one TRPV1-dependent and one TRPV1-independent. PAR1-dependent activation of presynaptic TRPV1 receptors facilitates glutamate release onto NTS neurons. The TRPV1-dependent mechanism appears to rely on astrocytic release of endovanilloid-like molecules. A subset of NTS neurons excited by PAR1 directly project to the rostral ventral respiratory group. The PAR1 initiated, TRPV1-dependent modulation of synaptic transmission in the NTS contributes to regulation of breathing.
Abstract: Many of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying astrocytic modulation of synaptic function remain poorly understood. Recent studies show that G-protein coupled receptor-mediated astrocyte activation modulates synaptic transmission in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), a brainstem nucleus that regulates crucial physiological processes including cardiorespiratory activity. By using calcium imaging and patch clamp recordings in acute brain slices of wild-type and TRPV1 rats, we show that activation of proteinase-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) in NTS astrocytes potentiates presynaptic glutamate release on NTS neurons. This potentiation is mediated by both a TRPV1-dependent and a TRPV1-independent mechanism. The TRPV1-dependent mechanism appears to require release of endovanilloid-like molecules from astrocytes, which leads to subsequent potentiation of presynaptic glutamate release via activation of presynaptic TRPV1 channels. Activation of NTS astrocytic PAR1 receptors elicits cFOS expression in neurons that project to respiratory premotor neurons and inhibits respiratory activity in control, but not in TRPV1 rats. Thus, activation of astrocytic PAR1 receptor in the NTS leads to a TRPV1-dependent excitation of NTS neurons causing a potent modulation of respiratory motor output.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/JP275127 | DOI Listing |
Cell Host Microbe
December 2024
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Peter Hung Pain Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address:
Approximately 20% of patients with shingles develop postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). We investigated the role of gut microbiota in shingle- and PHN-related pain. Patients with shingles or PHN exhibited significant alterations in their gut microbiota with microbial markers predicting PHN development among patients with shingles.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurosci Bull
December 2024
Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Key Laboratory of Immune Response and Immunotherapy, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
In the face of constantly changing environments, the central nervous system (CNS) rapidly and accurately calculates the body's needs, regulates feeding behavior, and maintains energy homeostasis. The arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC) plays a key role in this process, serving as a critical brain region for detecting nutrition-related hormones and regulating appetite and energy homeostasis. Agouti-related protein (AgRP)/neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurons in the ARC are core elements that interact with other brain regions through a complex appetite-regulating network to comprehensively control energy homeostasis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Comp Neurol
December 2024
Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
The nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) receives visceral information and regulates appetitive, digestive, and cardiorespiratory systems. Within the NTS, diverse processes operate in parallel to sustain life, but our understanding of their cellular composition is incomplete. Here, we integrate histologic and transcriptomic analysis to identify and compare molecular features that distinguish neurons in this brain region.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBr J Pharmacol
December 2024
Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Neuroscience
November 2024
Department of Rehabilitation, the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China; Department of Rehabilitation, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350212, China. Electronic address:
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has garnered significant attention as a promising bioelectronic therapy. In recent years, respiratory-gated auricular vagal afferent nerve stimulation (RAVANS), a novel non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation technique, has emerged. RAVANS integrates respiration with transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) and shares a similar mechanism of action to traditional VNS.
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