Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, including details on sids, causes, prevention, statistics.

Endogenous noradrenaline affects the maturation and function of the respiratory network: possible implication for SIDS.

Hilaire G

Groupe d'étude des Réseaux Moteurs, FRE CNRS 2722, 280 boulevard Sainte Marguerite, 13009 Marseille, France. hilaire@marseille.inserm.fr

Breathing is a vital, rhythmic motor act that is required for blood oxygenation and oxygen delivery to the whole body. Therefore, the brainstem network responsible for the elaboration of the respiratory rhythm must function from the very first moments of extrauterine life. In this review, it is shown that the brainstem noradrenergic system plays a pivotal role in both the modulation and the maturation of the respiratory rhythm generator. Compelling evidence are reported demonstrating that genetically induced alterations of the noradrenergic system in mice affect the prenatal maturation and the perinatal function of the respiratory rhythm generator and have drastic consequences on postnatal survival. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the leader cause of infant death in industrialised countries, may result from cardiorespiratory disorders during sleep. As several cases of SIDS have been observed in infants having noradrenergic deficits, a possible link between prenatal alteration of the noradrenergic system, altered maturation and function of the respiratory network and SIDS is suggested.

Published 8 June 2006 in Auton Neurosci, 126: 320-31.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Research Today. All Rights Reserved.