Peptides, Breathing, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Abstract

Shi et al. recently identified a brainstem peptidergic circuit in mice that is activated at birth and stabilizes breathing during the transition from the intra-utero environment to air breathing. This network remains important for maintaining stable breathing and respiratory homeostasis throughout development, and deficiencies in this network may be linked to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Keywords: PACAP; RTN; breathing; preBötzinger complex.