Most studies oriented toward examining mechanisms increasing carotid body (
CB) sensitivity to hypoxia during ventilatory acclimatization (VAH) have fo
cussed on the role of known neuromodulators of CB function. Two general cat
egories of the neuromodulatory agents studied most extensively could be con
sidered: those thought to be primarily inhibitory to CB function: dopamine,
norepinephrine, nitric oxide and those thought to be primarily excitatory:
substance P, endothelin. There is evidence that these putative inhibitory
agents are up-regulated in the first weeks of chronic hypoxia and that subs
tance P is down-regulated. All these changes would favor a decrease in CB s
ensitivity to hypoxia. There are data suggesting that CB endothelin activit
y is up-regulated in rats subjected to chronic hypoxia, a direction suggest
ing increased CB sensitivity to hypoxia. Dopamine may have an excitatory as
well as an inhibitory role on the CB, but there is not yet evidence to ind
icate that an excitatory role for DA exists in chronic hypoxia. Ion channel
studies of type I CB cells suggest increased excitability after prolonged
hypoxia. The role of excitatory CB nicotinic receptors and putative seroton
in type 3 receptors should be examined further for their potential role in
VAH. It is suggested that a balance of excitatory and inhibitory modulation
is responsible for increased CB sensitivity to hypoxia during VAH. (C) 200
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