We review recent cross-disciplinary experimental and theoretical investigations on metabolism of the amino acid neurotransmitters glutamic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain during hypoxia and hypercapnia and their possible role in central control of breathing. The roles of classical modifiers of central chemical drive to breathing (H+ and cholinergic mechanisms) are summarized. A brief perspective on the current widespread interest in GABA and glutamate in central control is given. The basic biochemistry of these amino acids and their roles in ammonia and bicarbonate metabolism are discussed. This review further addresses recent work on central respiratory effects of inhibitory GABA and excitatory glutamate. Current understanding of the sites and mechanisms of action of these amino acids on or near the ventral surface of the medulla is reviewed. We focus particularly on tracer kinetic investigations of glutamatergic and GABAergic mechanisms in hypoxia and hypercapnia and their possible role in the ventilatory response to hypoxia. We conclude with some speculative remarks on the critical importance of these investigations and suggest specific directions of research in central mechanisms of respiratory control.

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Recent data suggest that the increase in ventilation during hypoxia may be related to the release of the excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter glutamate centrally. To further investigate this, we studied the effects of MK-801, a selective noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, on the hypoxic ventilatory response in lightly anesthetized spontaneously breathing intact dogs. The cardiopulmonary effects of sequential ventriculocisternal perfusion (VCP) at the rate of 1 ml/min with mock cerebrospinal fluid (CSF, control) and MK-801 (2 mM) were compared during normoxia and 8 min of hypoxic challenge with 12% O2. Minute ventilation (VE), tidal volume (VT), and respiratory frequency (f) were recorded continuously, and hemodynamic parameters [heart rate (HR), blood pressure (MAP), cardiac output (CO), pulmonary arterial pressure, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure] were measured periodically. Each dog served as its own baseline control before and after each period of sequential VCP under the two different O2 conditions. During 15 min of normoxia, there were no significant changes in the cardiopulmonary parameters with mock CSF VCP, whereas with MK-801 VCP for 15 min, VE decreased by approximately 27%, both by reductions in VT and f (17 and 9.5%, respectively). HR, MAP, and CO were unchanged. During 8 min of hypoxia with mock CSF VCP, VE increased by 171% associated with increased VT and f (25 and 125%, respectively). HR, MAP, and CO were likewise augmented. In contrast, the hypoxic response during MK-801 VCP was characterized by an increased VE of 84%, mainly by a rise in f by 83%, whereas the VT response was abolished. The cardiovascular excitation was also inhibited.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Our understanding of cell structure and function derives from applications of a variety of physical and life science disciplines, methods and models to an important physiological process, namely, the exchange and transport of ions and molecules across biological membranes. We know that ion transport through membranes arises from a diversity of interrelated and interactive physical and chemical phenomena over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Among these phenomena common to all cellular structure and function include metabolism, kinetics of molecules, chemically mediated alteration of cell membrane electrical potential, membrane ion conductance, electrical signal propagation, and modulation by chemo- and mechanoreceptive mechanisms. This review focuses on the unique information contained in fluctuations in electrical properties associated with cell membrane ion transport.