Increased spinal adenosine impairs phrenic long-term facilitation in aging rats

Moderate acute intermittent hypoxia (mAIH) elicits a form of spinal, respiratory motor plasticity known as phrenic long-term facilitation (pLTF). In middle-aged male and geriatric female rats, mAIH-induced pLTF is attenuated through unknown mechanisms. In young adults, mAIH activates competing intracellular signaling cascades, initiated by serotonin 2 and adenosine 2A (A ) receptors, respectively. Spinal A receptor inhibition enhances mAIH-induced pLTF, meaning, serotonin dominates, and adenosine constrains mAIH-induced plasticity in the daily rest phase. Thus, we hypothesized elevated basal adenosine levels in the ventral cervical spinal cord of aged rats shifts this balance, undermining mAIH-induced pLTF. A selective A receptor antagonist (MSX-3) or vehicle was delivered intrathecally at C4 in anesthetized young (3-6 mo) and aged (20-22 mo) Sprague-Dawley rats before mAIH (3,5-min episodes; arterial Po = 45-55 mmHg). In young males, spinal A receptor inhibition enhanced pLTF (119 ± 5%) vs. vehicle (55 ± 9%), consistent with prior reports. In old males, pLTF was reduced to 25 ± 11%, but A receptor inhibition increased pLTF to levels greater than in young males (186 ± 19%). Basal adenosine levels in ventral C3-C5 homogenates are elevated two- to threefold in old vs. young males. These findings advance our understanding of age as a biological variable in phrenic motor plasticity and will help guide translation of mAIH as a therapeutic modality to restore respiratory and nonrespiratory movements in older populations afflicted with clinical disorders that compromise movement. Advanced age undermines respiratory motor plasticity, specifically phrenic long-term facilitation (pLTF) following moderate acute intermittent hypoxia (mAIH). We report that spinal adenosine increases in aged male rats, undermining mAIH-induced pLTF via adenosine 2A (A ) receptor activation, an effect reversed by selective spinal adenosine 2A receptor inhibition. These findings advance our understanding of mechanisms that impair neuroplasticity, and the ability to compensate for the onset of lung or neural injury with age, and may guide efforts to harness mAIH as a treatment for clinical disorders that compromise breathing and other movements.