Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is associated with recurrent apneas in adults and
premature infants. It has been proposed that reflexes arising from the carotid bodies
contribute to the autonomic abnormalities associated with CIH. The purpose of this review is
to summarize recent studies on the effects of CIH on adult and neonatal carotid bodies. CIH
exerts two major effects on the adult carotid body that includes sensitization of the hypoxic
sensory response and induction of sensory long-term facilitation (LTF). In neonates CIH …