Lynn K. Hartzler

My research interests include examining how animals adapt to environmental (temperature changes) and metabolic (exercise, feeding, etc.) perturbations to their acid-base status. Alterations in breathing are the primary, acute response to a metabolic acidosis or alkalosis. Current projects in my lab involve experiments designed to understand how central (brainstem) chemoreceptors sense changes in blood gases and pH. We use the combined techniques of fluorescence imaging microscopy and whole-cell electrophysiology to measure neuronal responses to changes in CO2, O2, and pH in brainstem neurons of poikilothermic vertebrates. I am interested in understanding how these chemoreceptors are altered by changes in the animal's environment.