Department of Physiology, 3-020 Katz Bldg, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2013 Apr 1;186(2):236-53. doi: 10.1016/j.resp.2013.01.011. Epub 2013 Jan 26.
Our understanding of the sites and mechanisms underlying rhythmic breathing as well as the neuromodulatory control of respiratory rhythm, pattern, and respiratory motoneuron excitability during perinatal development has advanced significantly over the last 20 years. A major catalyst was the development in 1991 of the rhythmically-active medullary slice preparation, which provided precise mechanical and chemical control over the network as well as enhanced physical and optical access to key brainstem regions. Insights obtained in vitro have informed multiple mechanistic hypotheses. In vivo tests of these hypotheses, performed under conditions of reduced control and precision but more obvious physiological relevance, have clearly established the significance for respiratory neurobiology of the rhythmic slice preparation. We review the contributions of this preparation to current understanding/concepts in respiratory control, and outline the limitations of this approach in the context of studying rhythm and pattern generation, homeostatic control mechanisms and murine models of human genetic disorders that feature prominent breathing disturbances.
在过去的 20 年里，我们对节律性呼吸的基础部位和机制以及呼吸节律、模式和呼吸运动神经元兴奋性的神经调制控制的理解有了显著的进步。一个主要的推动因素是 1991 年节律性活跃的延髓切片制备的发展，它为网络提供了精确的机械和化学控制，同时增强了对关键脑干区域的物理和光学访问。在体外获得的见解为多个机制假说提供了信息。在控制和精度降低但更明显具有生理相关性的条件下，对这些假说进行的体内测试清楚地确立了节律性切片制备对呼吸神经生物学的重要性。我们回顾了该制剂对呼吸控制的当前理解/概念的贡献，并概述了在研究节律和模式生成、稳态控制机制以及表现出明显呼吸障碍的人类遗传疾病的鼠模型时，该方法的局限性。
