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Pre-Botzinger complex

The Pre-Bötzinger Complex (preBötC) is a cluster of interneurons in the ventrolateral medulla essential to the generation of respiratory rhythm in mammals. The exact mechanism of the rhythm generation and transmission to motor nucluei remains controversial and the topic of much present research.

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Several synthetic compounds have been shown to act on neurons specfic to the preBötC, most being selective agonists or antagonists to receptor subtypes on neurons in the vicinity. Since many of these neurons express GABA, NMDA-glutamate, and adenosine receptors, chemicals custom tailored to bind at these sites are most effective at altering respiratory rhythm.

One such novel compound that acts on this area of the brain stem, called BIMU8, has been discovered . BIMU8, a selective 5HT₄ serotonin agonist is thought to stimulate the pBc, causing an increase in the rate of respiration. Another synthetic drug specific to the adenosine A_2A receptor subtype is CGS21680 that has been shown to cause apneas in 14-21 day old rat pups in vivo. For this reason, it has been used as a model to study pathological conditions such as apnea of prematurity and SIDS in neonatal infants.

v • d • e Respiratory system, physiology: respiratory physiology
Volumes	lung volumes - vital capacity - functional residual capacity - respiratory minute volume - closing capacity - dead space - spirometry - body plethysmography - peak flow meter - thoracic independent volume - bronchial challenge test
Airways	ventilation (V) (positive pressure) - breath (inhalation, exhalation) -respiratory rate - respirometer - pulmonary surfactant - compliance - hysteresivity - airway resistance
Blood	pulmonary circulation - perfusion (Q) - hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction - pulmonary shunt
Interactions	ventilation/perfusion ratio (V/Q) and scan - zones of the lung - gas exchange - pulmonary gas pressures - alveolar gas equation - hemoglobin - oxygen-haemoglobin dissociation curve (2,3-DPG, Bohr effect, Haldane effect) - carbonic anhydrase (chloride shift) - oxyhemoglobin - respiratory quotient - arterial blood gas - diffusion capacity - Dlco
Control of respiration	pons (pneumotaxic center, apneustic center) - medulla (dorsal respiratory group, ventral respiratory group) - chemoreceptors (central, peripheral) - pulmonary stretch receptors (Hering-Breuer reflex)
Insufficiency	high altitude - oxygen toxicity - hypoxia