# Identification of chemosensitive cells within the lateral hypothalamus

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT STORRS · 2022 · $42,723

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Respiratory chemoreception is the mechanism by which the brain regulates breathing in response to changes
in CO2/H+. This mechanism is essential for maintaining breathing unconsciously and its disruption is
associated with breathing problems particularly during sleep. The lateral hypothalamus has long been
considered a chemoreceptor region; however, mechanisms underlying this function are poorly understood. As
LHA neurons show considerable genetic variability that may correlate with function, my central hypothesis is
that discrete subsets of LHA neurons are specialized to function as respiratory chemoreceptors. To test this, I
will use a novel genetic approach to label and identify CO2/H+ activated LHA neurons (Aim 1); identify intrinsic
and synaptic mechanisms contributing to LHA CO2/H+ sensitivity (Aim 2), and determine contributions of these
cells to baseline breathing and the ventilatory response to CO2 (Aim 3). Important outcomes of this work
include 1) determining the cellular and network basis for how the LHA contributes to the CO2/H+ dependent
breath, 2) inform about LHA functional heterogeneity, and 3) provide valuable training in molecular, cellular and
whole animal approaches that should make me well positioned for taking the next step towards my goal of
becoming an independent investigator.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10672165
- **Project number:** 5F31HL160191-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT STORRS
- **Principal Investigator:** MAGGIE ANN KHUU
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $42,723
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10672165

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10672165, Identification of chemosensitive cells within the lateral hypothalamus (5F31HL160191-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10672165. Licensed CC0.

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