Respiratory function in mice lacking or overexpressing the prion protein.

Abstract We investigated a possible involvement of the prion protein in ventilatory control in four groups of mice, those deficient for the prion protein (PrP c ), those overexpressing the prion protein, and two groups of genetically and age-matched controls. Ventilatory patterns of unrestrained mice were measured in a whole-body plethysmograph. Between each genotype and its control, we compared ventilation at rest and the ventilatory response to moderate hypoxia (10–12% O 2 ), hyperoxia and hyperoxic hypercapnia. Mice lacking or overexpressing PrP c and their respective controls showed similar ventilatory patterns at rest and similar chemosensory responses when awake and under urethane anesthesia. Our results do not support the view that PrP c may play any significant role in basal ventilation or in the chemosensory ventilatory control of adult mice.