tetrodotoxin as a tool to elucidate sensory transduction mechanisms the case for the arterial chemoreceptors of the carotid body河豚毒素作为一种工具来阐明感觉传导机制的动脉的颈动脉体化学感受器.pdf

Mar. Drugs 2011, 9, 2683-2704; doi:10.3390/md9122683 OPEN ACCESS Marine Drugs ISSN 1660-3397 /journal/marinedrugs Review Tetrodotoxin as a Tool to Elucidate Sensory Transduction Mechanisms: The Case for the Arterial Chemoreceptors of the Carotid Body Asuncion Rocher *, Ana Isabel Caceres, Ana Obeso and Constancio Gonzalez Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine-IBGM, CIBER of Respiratory Diseases, ISCiii, University of Valladolid, 47005-Valladolid, Spain; E-Mails: ana.caceres@ (A.I.C.); aobeso@ibgm.uva.es (A.O.); constanc@ibgm.uva.es (C.G.) * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: rocher@ibgm.uva.es; Tel.: +34-983-42-3000 ext. 4122; Fax: +34-983-42-3588. Received: 22 September 2011; in revised form: 22 November 2011 / Accepted: 1 December 2011 / Published: 15 December 2011 Abstract: Carotid bodies (CBs) are secondary sensory receptors in which the sensing elements, chemoreceptor cells, are activated by decreases in arterial PO2 (hypoxic hypoxia). Upon activation, chemoreceptor cells (also known as Type I and glomus cells) increase their rate of release of neurotransmitters that drive the sensory activity in the carotid sinus nerve (CSN) which ends in the brain stem where reflex responses are coordinated. When challenged with hypoxic hypoxia, the physiopathologically most relevant stimulus to the CBs, they are activated and initiate ventilatory and cardioc