Practice makes perfect, even for breathing

Nat Neurosci. 2009 Aug;12(8):961-3. doi: 10.1038/nn0809-961.

Abstract

Breathing relies on a respiratory rhythm generator. A study characterizes an early emerging oscillatory group of Phox2b-expressing parafacial cells that entrain and couple with the preBötzinger Complex at the onset of fetal breathing.

Publication types

  • Comment
  • News

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Clocks / physiology*
  • Biological Evolution
  • Brain Stem / embryology*
  • Brain Stem / metabolism
  • Early Growth Response Protein 2 / metabolism
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Nerve Net / embryology*
  • Nerve Net / metabolism
  • Neurogenesis / physiology
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / metabolism
  • Respiratory Center / embryology*
  • Respiratory Center / metabolism
  • Respiratory Physiological Phenomena*
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Early Growth Response Protein 2
  • Egr2 protein, mouse
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • NBPhox protein
  • Receptors, Neurokinin-1
  • Transcription Factors