Astrocytes, Found to Regulate Breathing
July 20th 2010 21:18
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A new research in rats indicates that brain cells play a vital function in controlling breathing. On Friday, ScienceDaily.com reported that the star-shaped brain cells called Astrocytes, regulate the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood and stimulate other respiratory networks, to boost an individual's breathing, so that it matches metabolism and movement.
Formerly, scientists thought that brain cells only serve as”glue" between brain neurons. They are the most copious kind of cell found in the brain of human beings.
ScienceDaily accounted that the study might be useful in getting to the root cause of destructive conditions like Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which are connected with the breakdown of the respiratory system. However, the investigators feel that further study is required to establish such links.
Dr. Alexander Gourine, a researcher at University College London, said, "This research identifies brain astrocytes as previously unrecognized crucial elements of the brain circuits controlling fundamental bodily functions vital for life, such as breathing, and indicates that they are indeed the real stars of the brain".
Though, rodents are used in medical trials, and regarded as good models for experiments on human beings, more work is needed in this direction, to ensure that the study can be related to humans, also.
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