Pairing ampakine with brief hypoxia evokes phrenic neuroplasticity via a spinal NMDA receptor-mediated mechanism

Function 2026 Open access

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Authors: Prajwal P. Thakre, Sabhya Rana, Raphael Rodrigues Perim, Gordon S. Mitchell, David Dwight Fuller
DOI: 10.1152/function.019.2026
Cited by: 1
References: 67

Abstract

Rehabilitation paradigms using brief hypoxia exposure can improve recovery after spinal cord injury. A low dose of ampakines, which enhance AMPA neurotransmission, coupled with brief hypoxia (A-H), uniquely evokes respiratory neuroplasticity (“phrenic motor facilitation” or pMF) via a mechanism that requires spinal NMDA, but not serotonin or adenosine receptor activation. A-H also increased diaphragm activation in rats with chronic SCI, suggesting that the A-H pairing may be useful in neurorehabilitation.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Neuroscience of respiration and sleep Spinal Cord Injury Research Neurogenetic and Muscular Disorders Research

Publication details

Journal / source
Function
Publisher
American Physiological Society
Volume
7
Issue
5
Pages
e0192026–e0192026
Publication date
17 July 2026
Language
EN