Heme oxygenase-1 Dependent Central Cardiorespiratory Adaptations to Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia in Mice.

Oxygen sensitivity of central cardiorespiratory regions including the pre-Botzinger complex and C1 region are heme oxygenase (HO) dependent and may be altered by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). Induced expression of HO-1 in wild-type mice and decline in hypoxic sensitivity of sighs and sympathetic activity were seen in wild-type and HO-1 null mice following 1 day of CIH that persisted in HO-1 null mice, suggesting HO-1-dependent alterations in oxygen sensitivity in these regions following CIH.