A colloquium talk was organized on 5 Jan 2023 by the Zoology department of Deshbandhu College on the topic “Novel Mechanisms of neural control of breathing in acute lung injury” by an alumnus of the college Ms. Kajal Kamra at the Zoology Lecture theatre.

The event commenced with a brief introduction of Ms. Kajal by the TIC, Dr. Manisha Sengar. Ms. Kajal began the talk by sharing her academic journey. She grew up in New Delhi and went to Deshbandhu College (University of Delhi) for her

bachelor’s degree in Zoology (Hons). After she graduated from DU in 2016, she moved to the United States to pursue her master’s degree in Physiology and Neuroscience from Wright State University, Ohio and later, continued to pursue her Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, USA.

After discussing her affiliations, she shared some fascinating facts about the human lungs such as the ability of the human body to survive without one lung. After that, she explained the various aspects of Acute Lung Injury (ALI), its causes, and its repercussions on the human body. Ms. Kajal then elucidated the Bleomycin-induced ALI model that was being used in her study of acute lung injury.

She expounded on her aim, i.e., to study the role of Carotid body (CB) Chemoreceptor Afferents in Mediating Abnormal Ventilation in Acute Lung Injury (ALI).

After briefly explaining what are Carotid bodies and the functions they have in human physiology, she went on to delineate the various experimental designs and diagnostic tools used in her studies, such as Plethysmography and Pulmonary Function Test (PFT). Using various infographics such as detailed bar graphs, she led the audience to the conclusion that there is an observable increase in the sensitivity of the Carotid Bodies (CB) during recovery from Acute Lung Injury (ALI). She discussed the various possible underlying causes to this occurrence and hypothesized that Sympathetic Innervation to the Carotid Bodies (CB) arising from the Superior Cervical Ganglion (SCG) mediates chronic CB sensitization post-ALI (Acute Lung Injury). She wrapped up her talk by discussing the scope of her findings in future experiments and an acknowledgment.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Sunil Kayesth and a photo session with Ms. Kajal and her beloved professors.