| | |

Eugene E. Nattie, M.D.

Professional Interests:

His research focuses on the role of the brainstem in the regulation of breathing and blood pressure. Specifically, he is interested in central chemoreception, in how, where, and why the brain can sense changes in CO₂ and/or pH and, as a result, effect changes in breathing and sympathetic nervous system outflow. These CO₂ sensing functions appear to be located at many sites within in the brainstem. The mechanism of sensing CO₂ may involve a specific pH or CO₂ sensitive membrane receptor or it may involve effects on some membrane or synaptic function in an indirect manner. Related to this quest is an observation that destruction of a small number of neurons in one specific region of the brainstem has very dramatic effects on breathing. Destruction of the region labeled the retrotrapezoid nucleus in the ventrolateral medulla results in cessation of breathing (apnea) and loss of CO₂ responsiveness without effects on blood pressure. Destruction of nearby neurons in the subretrofacial region of the ventrolateral medulla results in decreased blood pressure with but minor effects on breathing. These adjacent regions of the ventrolateral medulla appear to be quite important in the control of breathing and blood pressure. In addition to study of central chemoreception, Dr. Nattie's lab is evaluating the role of these newly discovered and important ventrolateral medullary control regions with emphasis on effects in unanesthetised animals. These studies have evolved into an examination in a newborn piglet model of the role in the control of breathing of ventral medullary neuron groups that may be homologous with brainstem regions described as abnormal in SIDS victims.