Li P, Janczewski W, Yackle K, Kam K, Pagliardini S, Krasnow M, Feldman J (2016) The peptidergic control circuit for sighing. Nature 530:293-297. doi: 10.1038/nature16964
Summary: Sighs are often associated with relief or sadness, but rodents sigh spontaneously dozens of times per hour. There are physiological benefits to sighing, including enhancement of gas exchange and preservation of lung integrity. The authors identify a peptidergic sigh control circuit in the retrotrapezoid nucleus/parafacial respiratory group of the mouse brain that projects to the pre-Bötzinger complex. Mice received bilateral 6.2-ng injections of Bombesin-SAP (Cat. #IT-40) into the pre-Bötzinger complex. Blank-SAP (Cat. #IT-21) was used as control. Elimination of the bombesin receptor-expressing neurons or inhibition of neuromedin B receptor-expressing neurons suppressed sighing. Interfering with the activity of both receptors abolished sigh activity while leaving normal breathing intact. The data suggest that overlapping peptidergic pathways are the core of a sigh control circuit.
Related Products: Bombesin-SAP (Cat. #IT-40), Blank-SAP (Cat. #IT-21)