This time, a research team at the University of Tsukuba is conducting experiments with rats to clarify the role of hydrogen sulfide synthesized in the body in respiratory activity, which is one of the things created by neural networks. went.As a result, it was found that when the synthesis of hydrogen sulfide in the brain was suppressed, the rat could not maintain normal respiratory activity and changed to the characteristic respiration that is seen at the time of shortness of breath.On the other hand, when the synthesis of hydrogen sulfide was suppressed in tissues other than the brain, normal respiration of rats was maintained.From this, it was found that hydrogen sulfide synthesized in the brain is essential for the formation of normal respiration.

　Furthermore, it was also found that when the spontaneous activity produced by some neurons in the respiratory center is suppressed while the synthesis of hydrogen sulfide in the brain is suppressed, the above-mentioned characteristic respiration is not observed.That is, hydrogen sulfide in the brain supports the formation of normal respiration by neural networks, and deficiency results in diminished communication between neurons, resulting in special respiratory activity based on the spontaneous activity of respiratory central neurons. I thought it would change to.

　Dysplasia of respiratory activity can lead to serious illnesses such as sudden infant death syndrome.By clarifying the role of hydrogen sulfide in the formation of respiratory activity, it may open the way to the development of new preventive and therapeutic methods for these diseases.

Paper information:[Communications Biology] Endogenous hydrogen sulfide maintains eupnea in an in situ arterially perfused preparation of rats