Grant: Operating Grant

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (cote death) is a primary cause of death of infants between 1 month and 1 year. We know that environmental stress (including pathogens, temperature and soft bedding) combine with genetic abnormalities to put infants at risk. We found a gene associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) that produces three types of brain signaling molecules (neuropeptides). Two of these are known, the third is novel. Here we test the role of all three peptides in the control of neonatal breathing during physiological stress. We test whether these peptides are (1) necessary to breath when neonates are exposed to SIDS related risk factors, (2) released during respiratory stress and (3) stimulate breathing. We also test whether a genetic variant found in the novel neuropeptide of some SIDS victims affects neuropeptide production and/or efficacy to stimulate breathing.