Exacerbated ATP transmission in the carotid body is linked to glomus cell proliferation in spontaneously hypertensive rats

ATP acting on P2X3 receptors underpins carotid body (CB) hyperexcitability in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). We investigated whether this reflects differences in ATP release and/or its breakdown. Using a multipronged approach, we found that CBs of SHRs release more ATP than Wistar rats (P0.05). In conclusion, the increased ATP release from the CBs of SHRs may reflect its larger size due to glomus cell proliferation, potentiated by downregulated ATP-degrading enzymes.