美国索尔克生物研究所Sung Han团队近期取得重要工作进展，他们研究发现，自上而下的缓慢呼吸回路能减轻小鼠的负面情绪。相关研究成果2024年11月19日在线发表于《自然—神经科学》杂志上。

据介绍，尽管呼吸主要是自主的，但其受行为和情绪的调节表明脑干呼吸网络的皮层输入，迄今为止，脑干呼吸网络几乎没有得到任何表征。

研究人员在小鼠中发现了一条自上而下的呼吸通路，从背前扣带皮层（dACC）神经元到桥脑网状核GABA能抑制神经元（PnC^GABA），然后投射到延髓腹外侧（VLM）。dACC→PnC活性与缓慢的呼吸周期和自主的口面部行为相关，并受焦虑条件的影响。dACC→PnC^GABA→VLM电路的光遗传学刺激同时减缓呼吸并抑制焦虑样行为，而光遗传学抑制则增加呼吸频率和焦虑样行为。

总之，这一研究表明，dACC→PnC^GABA→VLM回路在协调缓慢呼吸和减少负面影响方面起着至关重要的作用。研究还阐明了自上而下控制呼吸的回路基础，它可以影响情绪状态。

附：英文原文

Title: A top-down slow breathing circuit that alleviates negative affect in mice

Author: Jhang, Jinho, Park, Seahyung, Liu, Shijia, OKeefe, David D., Han, Sung

Issue&Volume: 2024-11-19

Abstract: Although breathing is primarily automatic, its modulation by behavior and emotions suggests cortical inputs to brainstem respiratory networks, which hitherto have received little characterization. Here we identify in mice a top-down breathing pathway from dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) neurons to pontine reticular nucleus GABAergic inhibitory neurons (PnCGABA), which then project to the ventrolateral medulla (VLM). dACC→PnC activity correlates with slow breathing cycles and volitional orofacial behaviors and is influenced by anxiogenic conditions. Optogenetic stimulation of the dACC→PnCGABA→VLM circuit simultaneously slows breathing and suppresses anxiety-like behaviors, whereas optogenetic inhibition increases both breathing rate and anxiety-like behaviors. These findings suggest that the dACC→PnCGABA→VLM circuit has a crucial role in coordinating slow breathing and reducing negative affect. Our study elucidates a circuit basis for top-down control of breathing, which can influence emotional states.

DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01799-w

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-024-01799-w