Infants who have died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) show hyperplasia of pulmonary neuroendocrine cells. This project investigates the contribution of the pulmonary neuroendocrine system to the pathogenesis of SIDS. Since pulmonary neuroendocrine cells are innervated, we focus on neural regulation of pulmonary neuroendocrine secretion and the role of bioactive neuropeptides and amines secreted from pulmonary neuroendocrine cells in lung pathophysiology.
