![Edward Zuperku, PhD](/-/media/MCW/Departments/Anesthesiology/Profiles/Zuperku-Edward-PhD.jpg?scale=both&w=1500&anchor=middlecenter&mode=crop&h=1688&la=en&hash=FE411C00A9DA9A69F38CB8EC24C51CF6)
Edward Zuperku, PhD
Professor
Contact Information
Education
MS, Biomedical Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, 1967
PhD, Biomedical Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, 1970
Research Interests
- Brainstem networks in the control of breathing: Pons, Medulla, NTS
- Neurophysiology and neurotransmitter/modulator pharmacology of respiratory neurons
- Effects of opioids and anesthetics on respiratory neurons and breathing pattern
Publications
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(Palkovic B, Mustapic S, Saric I, Stuth EAE, Stucke AG, Zuperku EJ.) Front Physiol. 2023;14:1156076 PMID: 37362432 PMCID: PMC10285059 06/26/2023
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Contribution of the caudal medullary raphe to opioid induced respiratory depression.
(Palkovic B, Cook-Snyder D, Callison JJ, Langer TM 3rd, Nugent R, Stuth EAE, Zuperku EJ, Stucke AG.) Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2022 May;299:103855 PMID: 35124284 PMCID: PMC8897277 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85124754852 02/07/2022
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Interaction between the pulmonary stretch receptor and pontine control of expiratory duration.
(Zuperku EJ, Hopp FA, Stuth EAE, Stucke AG.) Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2021 Nov;293:103715 PMID: 34126261 PMCID: PMC8418273 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85108097773 06/15/2021
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(Palkovic B, Callison JJ, Marchenko V, Stuth EAE, Zuperku EJ, Stucke AG.) Anesthesiology. 2021 Oct 01;135(4):649-672 PMID: 34352068 PMCID: PMC8489159 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85115636053 08/06/2021
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Reflexes from the Lungs and Chest Wall
(McCrimmon DR, Alheid GF, Zuperku EJ.) Encyclopedia of Respiratory Medicine, Second Edition. 1 January 2021;2:261-268 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85143095758 01/01/2021
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Multi-Level Regulation of Opioid-Induced Respiratory Depression.
(Palkovic B, Marchenko V, Zuperku EJ, Stuth EAE, Stucke AG.) Physiology (Bethesda). 2020 Nov 01;35(6):391-404 PMID: 33052772 PMCID: PMC7864237 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85092886511 10/15/2020
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(Navarrete-Opazo AA, Cook-Snyder DR, Miller JR, Callison JJ, McCarthy N, Palkovic B, Stuth EAE, Zuperku EJ, Stucke AG.) Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2020 Jun;277:103401 PMID: 32036030 PMCID: PMC7309965 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85083237275 02/10/2020
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Inputs to medullary respiratory neurons from a pontine subregion that controls breathing frequency.
(Zuperku EJ, Stucke AG, Krolikowski JG, Tomlinson J, Hopp FA, Stuth EA.) Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2019 Jul;265:127-140 PMID: 29964165 PMCID: PMC6310670 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85049327239 07/03/2018
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(Cook-Snyder DR, Miller JR, Navarrete-Opazo AA, Callison JJ, Peterson RC, Hopp FA, Stuth EAE, Zuperku EJ, Stucke AG.) Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2019 Feb;260:37-52 PMID: 30502519 PMCID: PMC6397772 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85058568248 12/07/2018
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(Miller JR, Zuperku EJ, Stuth EAE, Banerjee A, Hopp FA, Stucke AG.) Anesthesiology. 2017 Sep;127(3):502-514 PMID: 28590302 PMCID: PMC5561451 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85020254103 06/08/2017
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(Zuperku EJ, Stucke AG, Hopp FA, Stuth EA.) J Neurophysiol. 2017 Mar 01;117(3):1030-1042 PMID: 27974449 PMCID: PMC5338614 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85014611292 12/16/2016
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(Radocaj T, Mustapic S, Prkic I, Stucke AG, Hopp FA, Stuth EA, Zuperku EJ.) Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2015 Jul;212-214:9-19 PMID: 25850079 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-84928340110 04/08/2015
Currently, our studies are focused on the brainstem control of breathing frequency (fB). Earlier studies identified a region in the pons where clinical concentrations of mu-opioids induce bradypnea and respiratory arrest. Furthermore, a subregion was identified that appears to play a key role in the control of fB (Fig. 1).
Figure 1. Pontine subregion where mu-opioids produce apnea
Microinjections of drugs that induce changes in the subregion respiratory neurons profoundly affect fB. Increases in subregion neuronal activity produce increases in fB while decreases in neuronal activity produce decreases in fB (ex. Fig. 2). The effectiveness of this pontine input of the control of fB and inspiratory and expiratory durations (TI & TE) was evaluated using precisely timed electrical pulse-train stimulation of the pontine subregion using a small bipolar concentric electrode.
Figure 2. Microinjection of drugs into the pontine subregion produces changes in phrenic neurogram (PNG) burst rate
To determine if the responses to electrically-induced changes are qualitatively similar to those produced by drug microinjection mediated excitation, we used a multi-barrel glass micropipette with a carbon filament in one barrel to deliver both types of stimuli to the same location (Fig. 3).
Figure 3. Electrically induced activity is qualitatively similar to glutamatergic stimulation
Microinjected AMPA produced an increase in fB primarily via a reduction in TE. Electrical pulse train stimuli delivered every other respiratory cycle produced a marked reduction in TE. The following peak PNG was also reduced. The repeated AMPA-induced response indicates that the integrity of the neurons was unaffected by the electrical stimuli. Studies using the electrical stimulation suggest that the pontine input acts to switch on inspiration by terminated the expiratory phase and activating pre-inspiratory neurons in the medulla. To better understand the underlying mechanisms, the activities respiratory neurons in the ventral respiratory column (VRC) of neurons were recorded using a 16-electrode probe while stimulating the pontine subregion. Preliminary data showed that pre-inspiratory neurons in the preBötzinger region were excited by AMPA-induced increases in the pontine subregion (Fig. 4). However, to determine if a direct synaptic input was present, we used the precise timing of electrical stimuli (constant 10 Hz) to generate post-stimulus time-histograms (PSTHs). The protocol setup is shown in figure 5. PSTHs show changes in the probability of neuronal firing caused by the stimuli and thereby suggest the type of synaptic input, excitatory or inhibitory, to the various medullary neurons.
Figure 4. Responses of medullary VRC neurons to excitation of mPBN neurons
Figure 5. Response of medullary VRC neurons to MPBN inputs
At the present time, 237/442 (~54%) of the medullary neurons had significant deviations in probability of firing, suggesting the pontine subregion is synaptically well connected with the medullary neurons. In addition, pulse-train stimuli synchronized with the PNG were further able to demonstrate the magnitude of the pontine input to various types of neurons. For example, pulse-train stimuli during the E phase produced an increase in the pre-I activity of a pre-I neuron (Fig. 6). For a Bötzinger E-neuron, the pontine stimulus shortened TE and produced a marked inhibition of the neuronal activity, even at a relatively low frequency (20 Hz, Fig. 6).
Figure 6. Pre-I neuron response to pulse-train stimuli of the pontine subregion
All of the above results suggest the following mechanism for the control of breathing frequency by the subregion in medial parabrachial complex. The pontine inputs excite pre-I pacemaker-like neurons and inhibit E-neurons to bring about the onset of inspiration.
The most recent finding is that the pontine subregion also controls the gain of the Hering-Breuer (H-B) reflex that is mediated by the slowing adapting pulmonary stretch receptors (PSRs). This reflex plays an important role in the control of phase duration TI and TE. Increases in the pontine subregion activity not only increase fB, but simultaneously attenuate the H-B expiratory prolonging effect (Fig. 9). This counter action promotes the increase in breathing frequency. The PSRs synapse on 2nd order neurons in the Solitary Tract Nucleus (NTS). We are now investigating if these 2nd order neurons are receiving inhibitory inputs from the pontine subregion. If the modulation is not occurring at this level, then it must be taking place deeper into the respiratory control network.
Figure 7. Bötzinger E-neuron response to pulse-train stimuli of the pontine subregion
Figure 8. Proposed model for the Inspiratory "On-Switch"
Figure 9.
A: Electrically-induced PSR activity during the E-phase (Fpsr), prolongs TE. When the pontine subregion is electrically stimulated (Fpons), the PSR effect on TE is greatly reduced.
B: Plots of TE as a function of PSR frequency for the various pontine frequencies indicated. The strength of the H-B E-prolonging effect is proportionately reduced at each pontine stimulus frequency, thus controlling the gain of the reflex.
In summary, the results suggest that the pharmacological properties of this small pontine subregion warrant further investigation since it plays are primary role in the autonomic control of breathing frequency and the neurons in this subregion are highly sensitive to opioids and other drugs. Understanding the neurotransmitter/modulator receptor pharmacology will offer insights in ways to therapeutically stimulate or inhibit breathing frequency.