Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Maturation Of The Carotid Body Oxygen-Sensor During Rat Development, Julia Paulet

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Carotid bodies (CB) are paired, oxygen-sensing organs located in the bifurcation of the carotid artery that act as peripheral chemoreceptors in the detection of hypoxic, hypercapnic and acidotic levels in the arterial blood. CBs respond to these fluctuations in blood gases by initiating firing of the carotid sinus nerve. This ultimately results in the appropriate ventilatory change to restore blood gases to their physiological levels. Studies have shown that the hypoxic response of the carotid body in juvenile mammals is low, but as maturation occurs this response is strengthened and clearly exhibited in adults. One theory suggests mitochondria play a …