Carotid Chemodenervation Approach to Study Oxygen Sensing in Brain Stem Catecholaminergic Cells

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses a carotid chemodenervation approach to study oxygen sensing in brain stem catecholaminergic cells. The physiological conditions of hypoxia known as “moderate” or “tolerable” hypoxia allows a long-term exposure lasting for weeks. The exposure to tolerable hypoxia enables the definition of the morphofunctional mechanisms involved in the ventilatory acclimatization of intact or carotid chemodenervated animals. Exposure to moderate hypoxia induces the activation of brain stem catecholaminergic cells located in cardiorespiratory areas and/or involved in the modulation of cardiorespiratory output. The chapter describes the in vivo and in vitro preparations used to test the effect of a moderate hypoxia on brain stem respiratory areas and then the methods used to evaluate the consequences of hypoxia on ventilation, catecholamine neurochemistry, and gene expression. Methods used to test the physiological effect of hypoxia are discussed.