The carotid body (CB) is the main peripheral chemoreceptor for arterial respiratory gases O₂ and CO_2, and pH, eliciting reflex ventilatory, cardiovascular and humoral responses to maintain homeostasis. This review examines the fundamental biology underlying CB chemoreceptor function, its contribution to integrated physiologic responses, and its role in maintaining health and potentiating disease. Emphasis will be placed on: i) Transduction mechanisms in chemoreceptor (type I) cells, highlighting the role played by the hypoxic inhibition of O₂-dependent K⁺ channels and mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, and their modification by intracellular molecules and other ionic channels; ii) Synaptic mechanisms linking type I cells and petrosal nerve terminals, focusing on the role played by the main proposed transmitters and modulatory gases, and the participation of glial cells in regulation of the chemosensory process; iii) Integrated reflex responses to CB activation, emphasizing that the responses differ dramatically depending on the nature of the physiological, pathological or environmental challenges, and the interactions of the chemoreceptor reflex with other reflexes in optimizing oxygen delivery to the tissues; and iv) The contribution of enhanced CB chemosensory discharge to autonomic and cardiorespiratory pathophysiology in obstructive sleep apnea, congestive heart failure, resistant hypertension and metabolic diseases, and how modulation of enhanced CB reactivity in disease conditions may attenuate pathophysiology.

中文翻译：

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颈动脉体化学感受器：生理学、病理学以及对健康和疾病的影响

_{颈动脉体 (CB) 是动脉呼吸气体 O 2}和 CO ₂以及 pH的主要外周化学感受器，引发反射性通气、心血管和体液反应以维持体内平衡。本综述探讨了 CB 化学感受器功能的基础生物学、其对综合生理反应的贡献及其在维持健康和加重疾病方面的作用。重点将放在：i）化学感受器（I型）细胞中的转导机制，强调O ₂依赖性K ⁺通道和线粒体氧化代谢的缺氧抑制所发挥的作用，以及细胞内分子和其他离子通道对它们的修饰；ii）连接I型细胞和岩神经末梢的突触机制，重点关注所提出的主要递质和调节气体所发挥的作用，以及神经胶质细胞在化学感应过程调节中的参与；iii) 对CB激活的综合反射反应，强调反应根据生理、病理或环境挑战的性质以及化学感受器反射与其他反射在优化向组织的氧气输送方面的相互作用而显着不同；iv) 增强的 CB 化学感应放电对阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停、充血性心力衰竭、难治性高血压和代谢性疾病中自主神经和心肺病理生理学的贡献，以及在疾病条件下调节增强的 CB 反应性如何可能减弱病理生理学。