Impaired hypoxic ventilatory response following neonatal sustained and subsequent chronic intermittent hypoxia in rats

Perinatal Hypoxemia and Oxygen Sensing

The development of the control of breathing begins in utero and continues postnatally. Fetal breathing movements are needed for establishing connectivity between the lungs and central mechanisms controlling breathing. Maturation of the control of breathing, including the increase of hypoxia chemosensitivity, continues postnatally. Insufficient oxygenation, or hypoxia, is a major stressor that can manifest for different reasons in the fetus and neonate. Though the fetus and neonate have different hypoxia sensing mechanisms and respond differently to acute hypoxia, both responses prevent deviations to respiratory and other developmental processes. Intermittent and chronic hypoxia pose much greater threats to the normal developmental respiratory processes. Gestational intermittent hypoxia, due to maternal sleep-disordered breathing and sleep apnea, increases eupneic breathing and decreases the hypoxic ventilatory response associated with impaired gasping and autoresuscitation postnatally. Chronic fetal hypoxia, due to biologic or environmental (i.e. high-altitude) factors, is implicated in fetal growth restriction and preterm birth causing a decrease in the postnatal hypoxic ventilatory responses with increases in irregular eupneic breathing. Mechanisms driving these changes include delayed chemoreceptor development, catecholaminergic activity, abnormal myelination, increased astrocyte proliferation in the dorsal respiratory group, among others. Long-term high-altitude residents demonstrate favorable adaptations to chronic hypoxia as do their offspring. Neonatal intermittent hypoxia is common among preterm infants due to immature respiratory systems and thus, display a reduced drive to breathe and apneas due to insufficient hypoxic sensitivity. However, ongoing intermittent hypoxia can enhance hypoxic sensitivity causing ventilatory overshoots followed by apnea; the number of apneas is positively correlated with degree of hypoxic sensitivity in preterm infants. Chronic neonatal hypoxia may arise from fetal complications like maternal smoking or from postnatal cardiovascular problems, causing blunting of the hypoxic ventilatory responses throughout at least adolescence due to attenuation of carotid body fibers responses to hypoxia with potential roles of brainstem serotonin, microglia, and inflammation, though these effects depend on the age in which chronic hypoxia initiates. Fetal and neonatal intermittent and chronic hypoxia are implicated in preterm birth and complicate the respiratory system through their direct effects on hypoxia sensing mechanisms and interruptions to the normal developmental processes. Thus, precise regulation of oxygen homeostasis is crucial for normal development of the respiratory control network. © 2021 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 11:1653-1677, 2021.

Caffeine prevents prostaglandin E1-induced disturbances in respiratory control in neonatal rats: implications for infants with critical congenital heart disease

Continuous infusion of prostaglandin E1 (PGE₁) is used to maintain ductus arteriosus patency in infants with critical congenital heart disease, but it can also cause central apnea suggesting an effect on respiratory neural control. In this study, we investigated whether 1) PGE₁ inhibits the various phases of the acute hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR; an index of respiratory control dysfunction) and increases apnea incidence in neonatal rats; and 2) whether these changes would be reversible with caffeine pretreatment. Whole body plethysmography was used to assess the HVR and apnea incidence in neonatal rats 2 h following a single bolus intraperitoneal injection of PGE₁ with and without prior caffeine treatment. Untreated rats exhibited a biphasic HVR characterized by an initial increase in minute ventilation followed by a ventilatory decline of the late phase (~5th minute) of the HVR. PGE₁ had a dose-dependent effect on the HVR. Contrary to our hypothesis, the lowest dose (1 µg/kg) of PGE₁ prevented the ventilatory decline of the late phase of the HVR. However, PGE₁ tended to increase postsigh apnea incidence and the coefficient of variability (CV) of breathing frequency, suggesting increased respiratory instability. PGE₁ also decreased brainstem microglia mRNA and increased neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and platelet-derived growth factor-β (PDGF-β) gene expression. Caffeine pretreatment prevented these effects of PGE₁, and the adenosine A_2A receptor inhibitor MSX-3 had similar preventative effects. Prostaglandin appears to have deleterious effects on brainstem respiratory control regions, possibly involving a microglial-dependent mechanism. The compensatory effects of caffeine or MSX-3 treatment raises the question of whether prostaglandin may also operate on an adenosine-dependent pathway.

Blood and urine biomarkers associated with long-term respiratory dysfunction following neonatal hyperoxia exposure: Implications for prematurity and risk of SIDS

Former preterm infants, many of whom required supplemental O₂ support, exhibit sleep disordered breathing and attenuated ventilatory responses to acute hypoxia (HVR) beyond their NICU stay. There is an increasing awareness that early detection of biomarkers in biological fluids may be useful predictors/identifiers of short- and long-term morbidities. In the present study, we identified serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA) and hyaluronan (HA) as three potential biomarkers that may be increased by neonatal hyperoxia and tested whether they would be associated with an impaired HVR in a rat model of supplemental O₂ exposure. Neonatal rats (postnatal age (P) 6 days, P6) exposed to hyperoxia (40% FIO₂, 24 h/day between P1-P5 days of age) exhibited an attenuated early (1 min), but not the late (4-5 min) phase of the HVR compared to normoxia control rats; the attenuated early phase HVR was associated with increased levels of DA (urine and serum), 5-HT (platelet poor plasma only, PPP), and HA (serum only). At P21, both the early and late phases of the HVR were attenuated, but serum and urine levels of all 3 biomarkers were similar to age-matched control rats. These data indicate that changes in several serum and/or urine biomarkers (5-HT, DA, and HA) following short-term (days) neonatal hyperoxia can signify long-term (weeks) respiratory control dysfunction. Further studies are needed to determine whether early detection of similar biomarkers could be convenient predictors of increased risk of abnormalities in respiratory control including sleep disordered breathing in former preterm infants who had received prior supplemental O₂ and who might also be at increased risk of SIDS.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Hypoxia, and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Recent studies have demonstrated that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with the development and evolution of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), independent of obesity or other shared risk factors. Like OSA, NAFLD is a prevalent disorder associated with major adverse health outcomes: Patients with NAFLD may develop cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. One major finding that has emerged from these studies is that the OSA-NAFLD association is related to the degree of nocturnal hypoxemia in OSA. Animal models have therefore largely focused on intermittent hypoxia, a key manifestation of OSA, to shed light on the mechanisms by which OSA may give rise to the complex metabolic disturbances that are seen in NAFLD. Intermittent hypoxia leads to tissue hypoxia and can result in oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system, among many other maladaptive effects. In such models, intermittent hypoxia has been shown to cause insulin resistance, dysfunction of key steps in hepatic lipid metabolism, atherosclerosis, and hepatic steatosis and fibrosis, each of which is pertinent to the development and/or progression of NAFLD. However, many intriguing questions remain unanswered: Principally, how aggressively should the clinician screen for NAFLD in patients with OSA, and vice versa? In this review, we attempt to apply the best evidence from animal and human studies to highlight the relationship between these two disorders and to advocate for further trials aimed at defining these relationships more precisely.

Impact of inflammation on developing respiratory control networks: rhythm generation, chemoreception and plasticity

The respiratory control network in the central nervous system undergoes critical developmental events early in life to ensure adequate breathing at birth. There are at least three "critical windows" in development of respiratory control networks: 1) in utero, 2) newborn (postnatal day 0-4 in rodents), and 3) neonatal (P10-13 in rodents, 2-4 months in humans). During these critical windows, developmental processes required for normal maturation of the respiratory control network occur, thereby increasing vulnerability of the network to insults, such as inflammation. Early life inflammation (induced by LPS, chronic intermittent hypoxia, sustained hypoxia, or neonatal maternal separation) acutely impairs respiratory rhythm generation, chemoreception and increases neonatal risk of mortality. These early life impairments are also greater in young males, suggesting sex-specific impairments in respiratory control. Further, neonatal inflammation has a lasting impact on respiratory control by impairing adult respiratory plasticity. This review focuses on how inflammation alters respiratory rhythm generation, chemoreception and plasticity during each of the three critical windows. We also highlight the need for additional mechanistic studies and increased investigation into how glia (such as microglia and astrocytes) play a role in impaired respiratory control after inflammation. Understanding how inflammation during critical windows of development disrupt respiratory control networks is essential for developing better treatments for vulnerable neonates and preventing adult ventilatory control disorders.

The impact of preterm adversity on cardiorespiratory function

NEW FINDINGS

What is the topic of this review? We review the influence of prematurity on the cardiorespiratory system and examine the common sequel of alterations in oxygen tension, and immune activation in preterm infants. What advances does it highlight? The review highlights neonatal animal models of intermittent hypoxia, hyperoxia and infection that contribute to our understanding of the effect of stress on neurodevelopment and cardiorespiratory homeostasis. We also focus on some of the important physiological pathways that have a modulatory role on the cardiorespiratory system in early life.

ABSTRACT

Preterm birth is one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality. Babies that survive early-life stress associated with immaturity have significant prevailing short- and long-term morbidities. Oxygen dysregulation in the first few days and weeks after birth is a primary concern as the cardiorespiratory system slowly adjusts to extrauterine life. Infants exposed to rapid alterations in oxygen tension, including exposures to hypoxia and hyperoxia, have altered redox balance and active immune signalling, leading to altered stress responses that impinge on neurodevelopment and cardiorespiratory homeostasis. In this review, we explore the clinical challenges posed by preterm birth, followed by an examination of the literature on animal models of oxygen dysregulation and immune activation in the context of early-life stress.

Rodent models of respiratory control and respiratory system development-Clinical significance

The newborn infant's respiratory system must rapidly adapt to extra-uterine life. Neonatal rat and mouse models have been used to investigate early development of respiratory control and reactivity in both health and disease. This review highlights several rodent models of control of breathing and respiratory system development (including pulmonary function), discusses their translational strengths and limitations, and underscores the importance of creating clinically relevant models applicable to the human infant.

Cardiovascular and respiratory outcome of preconditioned rats submitted to chronic intermittent hypoxia

NEW FINDINGS

What is the central question of this study? What are the effects of hypoxic preconditioning upon the cardiovascular and respiratory responses to subsequent episodes of chronic intermittent hypoxia? What is the main finding and its importance? The cardiovascular and respiratory responses to a chronic intermittent hypoxia protocol were not altered by previous exposure to intermittent or sustained hypoxia. These findings show that preconditioning to hypoxia produced neither facilitation nor protection from the cardiovascular and respiratory dysfunctions in response to subsequent episodes of chronic intermittent hypoxia in juvenile rats. Rats exposed to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) develop hypertension, which is associated with changes in the coupling of sympathetic and respiratory activities. In this study, we hypothesized that previous preconditioning to intermittent or sustained hypoxia would affect cardiovascular and respiratory changes produced by subsequent protocols of CIH. To test this hypothesis, male Wistar rats were preconditioned to either 10 days of CIH or 24 h of sustained hypoxia (SH). After the initial exposure to hypoxia, rats were maintained in normoxic conditions for 15 days before a new protocol of CIH during 10 days. Cardiovascular and respiratory variables obtained from groups of preconditioned rats were compared with a group of rats exposed to CIH for the first time and also to a group of rats maintained in normoxic conditions throughout the period of time of the respective preconditioning protocol. The data show that CIH produced a similar increase in arterial pressure and heart rate in both CIH and SH preconditioning protocols. Respiratory parameters during basal conditions were also not affected by preconditioning to either CIH or SH. We conclude that previous exposure to CIH or SH preconditioning does not facilitate or prevent the cardiovascular changes produced by CIH.

Early Life Exposure to Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia Primes Increased Susceptibility to Hypoxia-Induced Weakness in Rat Sternohyoid Muscle during Adulthood

Intermittent hypoxia is a feature of apnea of prematurity (AOP), chronic lung disease, and sleep apnea. Despite the clinical relevance, the long-term effects of hypoxic exposure in early life on respiratory control are not well defined. We recently reported that exposure to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) during postnatal development (pCIH) causes upper airway muscle weakness in both sexes, which persists for several weeks. We sought to examine if there are persistent sex-dependent effects of pCIH on respiratory muscle function into adulthood and/or increased susceptibility to re-exposure to CIH in adulthood in animals previously exposed to CIH during postnatal development. We hypothesized that pCIH would cause long-lasting muscle impairment and increased susceptibility to subsequent hypoxia. Within 24 h of delivery, pups and their respective dams were exposed to CIH: 90 s of hypoxia reaching 5% O2 at nadir; once every 5 min, 8 h per day for 3 weeks. Sham groups were exposed to normoxia in parallel. Three groups were studied: sham; pCIH; and pCIH combined with adult CIH (p+aCIH), where a subset of the pCIH-exposed pups were re-exposed to the same CIH paradigm beginning at 13 weeks. Following gas exposures, sternohyoid and diaphragm muscle isometric contractile and endurance properties were examined ex vivo. There was no apparent lasting effect of pCIH on respiratory muscle function in adults. However, in both males and females, re-exposure to CIH in adulthood in pCIH-exposed animals caused sternohyoid (but not diaphragm) weakness. Exposure to this paradigm of CIH in adulthood alone had no effect on muscle function. Persistent susceptibility in pCIH-exposed airway dilator muscle to subsequent hypoxic insult may have implications for the control of airway patency in adult humans exposed to intermittent hypoxic stress during early life.

Cardiorespiratory events in preterm infants: etiology and monitoring technologies

Every year, an estimated 15 million infants are born prematurely (<37 weeks gestation) with premature birth rates ranging from 5 to 18% across 184 countries. Although there are a multitude of reasons for this high rate of preterm birth, once birth occurs, a major challenge of infant care includes the stabilization of respiration and oxygenation. Clinical care of this vulnerable infant population continues to improve, yet there are major areas that have yet to be resolved including the identification of optimal respiratory support modalities and oxygen saturation targets, and reduction of associated short- and long-term morbidities. As intermittent hypoxemia is a consequence of immature respiratory control and resultant apnea superimposed upon an immature lung, improvements in clinical care must include a thorough knowledge of premature lung development and pathophysiology that is unique to premature birth. In Part 1 of a two-part review, we summarize early lung development and diagnostic methods for cardiorespiratory monitoring.

Microglia modulate brainstem serotonergic expression following neonatal sustained hypoxia exposure: implications for sudden infant death syndrome

KEY POINTS

Neonatal sustained hypoxia exposure modifies brainstem microglia and serotonin expression. The altered brainstem neurochemistry is associated with impaired ventilatory responses to acute hypoxia and mortality. The deleterious effects of sustained hypoxia exposure can be prevented by an inhibitor of activated microglia. These observations demonstrate a potential cause of the brainstem serotonin abnormalities thought to be involved in sudden infant death syndrome.

ABSTRACT

We showed previously that the end of the second postnatal week (days P11-15) represents a period of development during which the respiratory neural control system exhibits a heightened vulnerability to sustained hypoxia (SH, 11% O2 , 5 days) exposure. In the current study, we investigated whether the vulnerability to SH during the same developmental time period is associated with changes in brainstem serotonin (5-HT) expression and whether it can be prevented by the microglia inhibitor minocycline. Using whole-body plethysmography, SH attenuated the acute (5 min) hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) and caused a high incidence of mortality compared to normoxia rats. SH also increased microglia cell numbers and decreased 5-HT immunoreactivity in the nucleus of the solitary tract (nTS) and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMNV). The attenuated HVR, mortality, and changes in nTS and DMNV immunoreactivity was prevented by minocycline (25 mg kg(-1) /2 days during SH). These data demonstrate that the 5-HT abnormalities in distinct respiratory neural control regions can be initiated by prolonged hypoxia exposure and may be modulated by microglia activity. These observations share several commonalities with the risk factors thought to underlie the aetiology of sudden infant death syndrome, including: (1) a vulnerable neonate; (2) a critical period of development; (3) evidence of hypoxia; (4) brainstem gliosis (particularly the nTS and DMNV); and (5) 5-HT abnormalities.

Hypoxic Episodes in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Hypoxic episodes are troublesome components of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. Immature respiratory control seems to be the major contributor, superimposed on abnormal respiratory function. Relatively short respiratory pauses may precipitate desaturation and bradycardia. This population is predisposed to pulmonary hypertension; it is likely that pulmonary vasoconstriction also plays a role. The natural history has been well-characterized in the preterm population at risk for BPD; however, the consequences are less clear. Proposed associations of intermittent hypoxia include retinopathy of prematurity, sleep disordered breathing, and neurodevelopmental delay. Future study should address whether these associations are causal relationships.

Changes in carotid body and nTS neuronal excitability following neonatal sustained and chronic intermittent hypoxia exposure

We investigated whether pre-treatment with neonatal sustained hypoxia (SH) prior to chronic intermittent hypoxia (SH+CIH) would modify in vitro carotid body (CB) chemoreceptor activity and the excitability of neurons in the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract (nTS). Sustained hypoxia followed by CIH exposure simulates an oxygen paradigm experienced by extremely premature infants who developed persistent apnea. Rat pups were treated with 5 days of SH (11% O2) from postnatal age 1 (P1) followed by 10 days of subsequent chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH, 5% O2/5 min, 8 h/day, between P6 and P15) as described previously (Mayer et al., Respir. Physiol. Neurobiol. 187(2): 167-75, 2013). At the end of SH+CIH exposure (P16), basal firing frequency was enhanced, and the hypoxic sensory response of single unit CB chemoafferents was attenuated. Further, basal firing frequency and the amplitude of evoked excitatory post-synaptic currents (ESPC's) of nTS neurons was augmented compared to age-matched rats raised in normoxia. These effects were unique to SH+CIH exposure as neither SH or CIH alone elicited any comparable effect on chemoafferent activity or nTS function. These data indicated that pre-treatment with neonatal SH prior to CIH exposure uniquely modified mechanisms of peripheral (CB) and central (nTS) neural function in a way that would be expected to disturb the ventilatory response to acute hypoxia.

Vulnerability of neonatal respiratory neural control to sustained hypoxia during a uniquely sensitive window of development

The first postnatal weeks represent a period of development in the rat during which the respiratory neural control system may be vulnerable to aberrant environmental stressors. In the present study, we investigated whether sustained hypoxia (SH; 11% O2) exposure starting at different postnatal ages differentially modifies the acute hypoxic (HVR) and hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR). Three different groups of rat pups were exposed to 5 days of SH, starting at either postnatal age 1 (SH1-5), 11 (SH11-15), or 21 (SH21-25) days. Whole body plethysmography was used to assess the HVR and HCVR the day after SH exposure ended. The primary results indicated that 1) the HVR and HCVR of SH11-15 rats were absent or attenuated (respectively) compared with age-matched rats raised in normoxia; 2) there was a profoundly high (∼84% of pups) incidence of unexplained mortality in the SH11-15 rats; and 3) these phenomena were unique to the SH11-15 group with no comparable effect of the SH exposure on the HVR, HCVR, or mortality in the younger (SH1-5) or older (SH21-25) rats. These results share several commonalities with the risk factors thought to underlie the etiology of sudden infant death syndrome, including 1) a vulnerable neonate; 2) a critical period of development; and 3) an environmental stressor.