Phox2a Gene, A6 Neurons, and Noradrenaline Are Essential for Development of Normal Respiratory Rhythm in Mice

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Abstract
Although respiration is vital to the survival of all mammals from the moment of birth, little is known about the genetic factors controlling the prenatal maturation of this physiological process. Here we investigated the role of thePhox2agene that encodes for a homeodomain protein involved in the generation of noradrenergic A6 neurons in the maturation of the respiratory network. First, comparisons of the respiratory activity of fetuses delivered surgically from heterozygousPhox2apregnant mice on gestational day 18 showed that the mutants had impairedin vivoventilation,in vitrorespiratory-like activity, andin vitrorespiratory responses to central hypoxia and noradrenaline. Second, pharmacological studies on wild-type neonates showed that endogenous noradrenaline released from pontine A6 neurons potentiates rhythmic respiratory activity via α1 medullary adrenoceptors. Third, transynaptic tracing experiments in which rabies virus was injected into the diaphragm confirmed that A6 neurons were connected to the neonatal respiratory network. Fourth, blocking the α1 adrenoceptors in wild-type dams during late gestation with daily injections of the α1 adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin inducedin vivoandin vitroneonatal respiratory deficits similar to those observed inPhox2amutants. These results suggest that noradrenaline, A6 neurons, and thePhox2agene, which is crucial for the generation of A6 neurons, are essential for development of normal respiratory rhythm in neonatal mice. Metabolic noradrenaline disorders occurring during gestation therefore may induce neonatal respiratory deficits, in agreement with the catecholamine anomalies reported in victims of sudden infant death syndrome.