Single cell transcriptome sequencing of inspiratory neurons of the preBötzinger complex in neonatal mice

Role of NaV1.6-mediated persistent sodium current and bursting-pacemaker properties in breathing rhythm generation

Inspiration is the inexorable active phase of breathing. The brainstem pre-Bötzinger complex (preBötC) gives rise to inspiratory neural rhythm, but its underlying cellular and ionic bases remain unclear. The long-standing "pacemaker hypothesis" posits that the persistent Na+ current (INaP) that gives rise to bursting-pacemaker properties in preBötC interneurons is essential for rhythmogenesis. We tested the pacemaker hypothesis by conditionally knocking out and knocking down the Scn8a (Nav1.6 [voltage-gated sodium channel 1.6]) gene in core rhythmogenic preBötC neurons. Deleting Scn8a substantially decreases the INaP and abolishes bursting-pacemaker activity, which slows inspiratory rhythm in vitro and negatively impacts the postnatal development of ventilation. Diminishing Scn8a via genetic interference has no impact on breathing in adult mice. We argue that the Scn8a-mediated INaP is not obligatory but that it influences the development and rhythmic function of the preBötC. The ubiquity of the INaP in respiratory brainstem interneurons could underlie breathing-related behaviors such as neonatal phonation or rhythmogenesis in different physiological conditions.

Single cell transcriptome sequencing of inspiratory neurons of the preBötzinger complex in neonatal mice

Neurons in the brainstem preBötzinger complex (preBötC) generate the rhythm and rudimentary motor pattern for inspiratory breathing movements. We performed whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from inspiratory neurons in the preBötC of neonatal mouse slices that retain breathing-related rhythmicity in vitro. We classified neurons based on their electrophysiological properties and genetic background, and then aspirated their cellular contents for single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). This data set provides the raw nucleotide sequences (FASTQ files) and annotated files of nucleotide sequences mapped to the mouse genome (mm10 from Ensembl), which includes the fragment counts, gene lengths, and fragments per kilobase of transcript per million mapped reads (FPKM). These data reflect the transcriptomes of the neurons that generate the rhythm and pattern for inspiratory breathing movements.