2010 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

The elucidation of molecular basis on mechanisms for chemosensitive respiratory regulation

Research Project

Project/Area Number	21790231
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Research Field	Environmental physiology (including Physical medicine and Nutritional physiology)
Research Institution	Hyogo College of Medicine
Principal Investigator	HIRATA Yutaka Hyogo College of Medicine, 医学部, 助教 (10441247)
Project Period (FY)	2009 – 2010
Keywords	TRP / 中枢化学受容器 / グリア細胞 / カルシウム応答 / 二酸化炭素 / 水素イオン濃度 / 延髄 / 培養細胞
Research Abstract	The medulla contains central chemosensitive cells (CRC) important for the maintenance of blood gas and pH homeostasis. To identify the intrinsic CRC, we measured responses of intracellular Ca^<2+> and H^+, and membrane potential of rat primary-cultured medullary cells to a brief exposure (sec level) to hypercapnic acidosis. In glia-rich cultures, intracellular acidification preceded the hypercapnic acidosis-induced Ca^<2+> response independent of extracellular pH. TRP channel blockers attenuated the hypercapnic acidosis-induced Ca^<2+> response. Subpopulations of cells that exhibited the hypercapnic acidosis-induced Ca^<2+> response also responded to the application of TRP agonist. These results suggest that the TRP channel is a potent candidate of central chemosensing molecules.