Expression of Multiple P2X Receptors by Glossopharyngeal Neurons Projecting to Rat Carotid Body O2-Chemoreceptors: Role in Nitric Oxide-Mediated Efferent Inhibition

In mammals, ventilation is peripherally controlled by the carotid body (CB), which receives afferent innervation from the petrosal ganglion and efferent innervation from neurons located along the glossopharyngeal nerve (GPN). GPN neurons give rise to the "efferent inhibitory" pathway via a plexus of neuronal nitric oxide (NO) synthase-positive fibers, believed to be responsible for CB chemoreceptor inhibition via NO release. Although NO is …