Analysis of respiratory movements in a mouse model of late Parkinson’s disease submitted to stress

• Published in: Respiratory physiology & neurobiology Vol. 251; pp. 50 - 56
• Main Authors: de Campos, P.S., Kawamura, L.R.S.M., Hasegawa, K., Kumei, Y., Zeredo, J.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.05.2018
• Subjects: Animal; Behavior; Diaphragm; Disease models; Radiography; Respiration; Radiography; PD; Disease models; CPA; Animal; 6-OHDA; Diaphragm; Behavior; Respiration
• ISSN: 1569-9048; 1878-1519
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2018.02.012

•Respiratory movements suggested an obstructive type of respiratory dysfunction.•Changes included reduced diaphragmatic movement with compensatory thoracic breathing.•Acute-stress induced a decrease in the respiratory frequency. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is known to cause tremor and rigidity, but other symptoms such as respiratory and autonomic dysfunctions are a major cause of disability and mortality in patients. In this study, we examined respiratory movements by using cineradiography on a murine model of late/advanced PD. Under surgical anesthesia, C57BL/6J mice received an injection of either 6-OHDA or vehicle solution to the right striatum. Two weeks after surgery, the animals had their respiratory movements recorded by video X-ray without any restraint. During recordings the animals were submitted to a mild acute-stress challenge. Behavioral tests were performed to assess the severity of the 6-OHDA lesion. As a result, behavioral tests confirmed severe motor impairments in 6-OHDA mice as compared to controls. 6-OHDA mice showed a predominantly thoracic respiratory pattern with reduced diaphragmatic excursion, and reduced respiratory frequency after stress. These results suggest that advanced nigrostrial degeneration may cause respiratory alterations with the features of obstructive-type respiratory disorders.