Work

Role of the carotid body chemoreceptors in glucose homeostasis and thermoregulation in humans

Year: 2018

Type: review

Abstract: The carotid bodies (CBs) are multi-modal sensory organs located bilaterally at the bifurcation of the carotid artery and innervated by the carotid sinus nerve (Hering's nerve), a branch of the IX cranial nerve. While the CBs (or embryologically analogous structures) are well known as the dominant oxygen-sensing organ in vertebrates, in mammals there is evidence that the CBs may also sense glucose and temperature, and respond to circulating hormones and other factors. Additionally, the CBs likely participate in regulating baseline levels of sympathetic tone. In this brief review, we focus on the evolution of our efforts to understand 'what else' beyond oxygen sensing the CBs do in humans.

Source: The Journal of Physiology

DOI: 10.1113/jp274354

Authors: Michael J. Joyner, Jacqueline K. Limberg, Erica A. Wehrwein, Blair D. Johnson

Institutions: Mayo Clinic, University of Missouri, Michigan State University, University at Buffalo, State University of New York

Language: English

Topic: Neuroscience of respiration and sleep

Subfield: Endocrine and Autonomic Systems

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: American Heart Association, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases