Respiratory Function in Mice Lacking or Overexpressing the Prion Protein

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% O2), 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.