Figure 7.

Blockade of vesicular release by brainstem astrocytes impairs central respiratory oxygen sensitivity. A, EGFP–TeLC expression in astrocytes in the brainstem region corresponding to the anatomical location of the preBötC [ventral to the compact formation of the nucleus ambiguus (NA) neurons expressing ChAT]. B, Higher-magnification image of EGFP–TeLC expression (green) in astrocytes of the preBötC region. IR, Immunoreactivity. C, Summary data illustrating hypoxia-induced changes in the respiratory rate, tidal volume, and minute lung ventilation in carotid body intact and peripherally chemodenervated (10 weeks) conscious rats expressing CatCh (calcium translocating channelrhodopsin variant that was fused with EGFP and used as a control here) or TeLC within the brainstem respiratory circuits.