The superior cervical ganglia modulate ventilatory responses to hypoxia independently of preganglionic drive from the cervical sympathetic chain

Abstract

We present data showing that the ventilatory responses elicited by a hypoxic gas challenge in male C57BL6 mice with bilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy are not equivalent to those reported for mice with bilateral transection of the cervical sympathetic chain. These data suggest that hypoxic gas challenge may directly activate subpopulations of superior cervical ganglion (SCG) cells, including small intensely fluorescent cells and/or principal SCG neurons, independently of preganglionic cervical sympathetic chain drive.