Cardani S, Janes TA, Asif R, Pagliardini S (2026) Sex differences in the effects of etonogestrel on respiratory recovery in an in vivo rat model of central chemoreflex impairment. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 242(4):e70194. doi: 10.1111/apha.70194 PMID: 41823358
Objective: Chronic etonogestrel (ETO) treatment improved the CO2 chemoreflex in female rats in which <80% of chemoreceptor neurons comprising the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) were eliminated. Since the progesterone receptor is widely expressed in both the male and female brain, authors investigated the effects of ETO on respiratory recovery.
Summary: Authors used SSP-SAP to partially eliminate RTN neurons. Dose-dependent impairment of the CO2 chemoreflex in both sexes following chemoreceptor lesion corroborates the findings that ETO treatment restores ventilation in female rats with moderate-sized lesions.
Usage: Four microinjections (150 nL per injection) were made with Substance P-conjugated saporin toxin (SSP-SAP, IT-11) and fluorescent carboxylate-modified Fluospheres TM to label injection sites.
Related Products: SSP-SAP (Cat. #IT-11)