Chemical and electric transmission in the carotid body chemoreceptor complex

Carotid body chemoreceptors are complex secondary receptors. There are chemical and electric connections between glomus cells (GC/GC) and between glomus cells and carotid nerve endings (GC/NE). Chemical secretion of glomus cells is accompanied by GC/GC uncoupling. Chemical GC/NE transmission is faci...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological research 2005, Vol.38 (4), p.341-345
Main Author: Eyzaguirre, Carlos
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
BIOLOGY
carotid body
Carotid Body - cytology
Carotid Body - physiology
Chemoreceptor Cells - physiology
chemosensory activity
glomus cells
Humans
Nerve Endings - physiology
Neurotransmitter Agents - physiology
Synaptic Transmission - physiology
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Summary:Carotid body chemoreceptors are complex secondary receptors. There are chemical and electric connections between glomus cells (GC/GC) and between glomus cells and carotid nerve endings (GC/NE). Chemical secretion of glomus cells is accompanied by GC/GC uncoupling. Chemical GC/NE transmission is facilitated by concomitant electric coupling. Chronic hypoxia reduces GC/GC coupling but increases G/NE coupling. Therefore, carotid body chemoreceptors use chemical and electric transmission mechanisms to trigger and change the sensory discharge in the carotid nerve.
ISSN:0716-9760
0716-9760
0717-6287
DOI:10.4067/S0716-97602005000400005