Indeed, the expression of NPARM PHOX2B mutation in Phox2b+ non-respiratory progenitor cells such as visceral motor neuron progenitors, induced a severe neonatal apnea along with a significant loss of neurons directly deriving from that specific progenitor domain but also from respiratory neural structures, such as RTN and preBötC, embriologically unrelated to that progenitor domain. This evidence concerns the gene PHOX2B and Apnea.