Potential Role of Mitochondria in Hypoxia Sensing by Adrenomedullary Chromaffin Cells

Exposure of the neonate to episodes of acute hypoxia during birth results in a variety of adaptive changes that include fluid re-absorption and secretion of surfactant in the lungs to promote air breathing (Slotkin and Seidler 1988). These physiological responses depend critically on catecholamine secretion from adrenomedullary chromaffin cells (AMC), which express a direct, developmentally-regulated hypoxia sensing mechanism, independent of …