Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2013 Jan 1;185(1):156-69. doi: 10.1016/j.resp.2012.05.026. Epub 2012 Jun 8.
Respiratory control entails coordinated activities of peripheral chemoreceptors (mainly the carotid bodies) and central chemosensors within the brain stem respiratory network. Candidates for central chemoreceptors include Phox2b-containing neurons of the retrotrapezoid nucleus, serotonergic neurons of the medullary raphé, and/or multiple sites within the brain stem. Extensive interconnections among respiratory-related nuclei enable central chemosensitive relay. Both peripheral and central respiratory centers are not mature at birth, but undergo considerable development during the first two postnatal weeks in rats. A critical period of respiratory development (∼P12-P13 in the rat) exists when abrupt neurochemical, metabolic, ventilatory, and electrophysiological changes occur. Environmental perturbations, including hypoxia, intermittent hypoxia, hypercapnia, and hyperoxia alter the development of the respiratory system. Carotid body denervation during the first two postnatal weeks in the rat profoundly affects the development and functions of central respiratory-related nuclei. Such denervation delays and prolongs the critical period, but does not eliminate it, suggesting that the critical period may be intrinsically and genetically determined.
呼吸控制需要外周化学感受器（主要是颈动脉体）和脑干呼吸网络中的中枢化学感受器的协调活动。中枢化学感受器的候选者包括延髓背侧呼吸核中的 Phox2b 包含神经元、中缝核中的 5-羟色胺能神经元和/或脑干内的多个部位。呼吸相关核之间的广泛相互连接使中枢化学敏感得以传递。外周和中枢呼吸中枢在出生时都不成熟，但在大鼠出生后的前两周内会经历相当大的发育。呼吸发育的关键时期（大鼠约为 P12-P13）会发生突然的神经化学、代谢、通气和电生理变化。环境干扰，包括缺氧、间歇性缺氧、高碳酸血症和高氧血症，会改变呼吸系统的发育。在大鼠出生后的前两周内对颈动脉体进行神经切断术会严重影响中枢呼吸相关核的发育和功能。这种神经切断术会延迟和延长关键时期，但不会消除它，这表明关键时期可能是内在的和遗传决定的。
