Department of Applied Science, Integrated Science Center, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, USA.
Department of Physiology, Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, Women's and Children's Health Research Institute (WCHRI), Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Nat Rev Neurosci. 2018 Jun;19(6):351-367. doi: 10.1038/s41583-018-0003-6.
Breathing is a well-described, vital and surprisingly complex behaviour, with behavioural and physiological outputs that are easy to directly measure. Key neural elements for generating breathing pattern are distinct, compact and form a network amenable to detailed interrogation, promising the imminent discovery of molecular, cellular, synaptic and network mechanisms that give rise to the behaviour. Coupled oscillatory microcircuits make up the rhythmic core of the breathing network. Primary among these is the preBötzinger Complex (preBötC), which is composed of excitatory rhythmogenic interneurons and excitatory and inhibitory pattern-forming interneurons that together produce the essential periodic drive for inspiration. The preBötC coordinates all phases of the breathing cycle, coordinates breathing with orofacial behaviours and strongly influences, and is influenced by, emotion and cognition. Here, we review progress towards cracking the inner workings of this vital core.
呼吸是一种描述详尽、至关重要且出人意料地复杂的行为，其行为和生理输出易于直接测量。产生呼吸模式的关键神经元素是独特的、紧凑的，并且形成了一个易于详细探究的网络，有望发现产生该行为的分子、细胞、突触和网络机制。耦合的振荡微电路构成了呼吸网络的节奏核心。其中最重要的是前脑桥呼吸中枢（preBötC），它由兴奋性节律生成中间神经元以及兴奋性和抑制性模式形成中间神经元组成，共同产生吸气的基本周期性驱动。preBötC 协调呼吸周期的所有阶段，协调呼吸与口面部行为，并强烈影响情绪和认知，同时也受其影响。在这里，我们回顾了破解这个重要核心内部运作的进展。
