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New insights on the role of the insular cortex and habenula in OSA

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Abstract

Purpose

Abnormal structure or function in the central nervous system (CNS) can also affect obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Because human afferent and motor pathways that regulate apnea are still poorly understood, it is not possible to modify the behavior of motor neurons to control airway function. The purpose of this article is to clear the central control mechanism of genioglossus (GG) and to discuss how altered activity in the limbic system and its related structures might affect OSA development, in order to provide help for the treatment of this disease.

Methods

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from previous studies on OSA-related brain damage in human beings plus the data from clinical and animal experiments are summarized. These articles are overviewed to discuss the roles of the limbic system—the insular cortex (Ic), the habenula (Hb), and CNS—in the pathogenesis and mechanisms of OSA.

Results

The Ic, which relays signals through the Hb, may play a role in OSA because activating the Ic causes the Hb to suppress activity of the raphe nucleus (RN), resulting in lower levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) that decreases the muscle tone of the GG. This leads to airway collapse.

Conclusions

The Ic may be an important region in the development of OSA. Altered activity in the limbic system and its related structures could also be associated with OSA.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation (No. 30270502), the Science and Technology Bureau of Changchun (No. 04-07SF-071), and the Innovation Foundation of Jilin University (No. 200 CX 2001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The First Affiliated Hospital, Jilin University, 71 Xin Min Street, Changchun, 130021, People’s Republic of China

    Ming-Xian Li & Chao-Ying Yan

  2. Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, People’s Republic of China

    Shao Wang

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  1. Ming-Xian Li
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Correspondence to Chao-Ying Yan.

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Li, MX., Yan, CY. & Wang, S. New insights on the role of the insular cortex and habenula in OSA. Sleep Breath 19, 1347–1353 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-015-1168-0

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