Oxygen Sensing in Mammalian Pulmonary Neuroepithelial Bodies

The aim of this chapter is to review current evidence in regard to the function of pulmonary Neuroepithelial bodies (NEB’s) as hypoxia sensitive airway sensors in mammalian lungs. Typical NEB’s form clusters of innervated amine (serotonin, 5-HT) and peptide (i.e. bombesin, CGRP) producing cells widely distributed within the airway epithelium, with preferential location at airway branch points. Recent electrophysiological studies using the …