Peripheral and central respiratory chemoreceptors are ultimately responsible for
maintenance of constant levels of arterial P, P and [H+], protecting the brain from hypoxia
and ensuring that the breathing is always appropriate for metabolism. The aim of this
discussion is to shed some light on the potential mechanisms of chemosensory transduction–
the process which links chemosensory mechanisms to the central nervous mechanisms
controlling breathing. Recent experimental data suggest that the purine nucleotide ATP acts …