Abstract
The hypoxic ventilatory response of the anesthetized rat was measured using a progressive hypoxia test whilst end-tidalP CO 2 was maintained at a constant level. The ventilatory response to hypoxia was expressed by the equation,\(\dot V_E = \dot V_O + A/(Pa_{O_2 } - C)\)(\(\dot V_E\), total ventilation in 1 BTPS ·min−1;Pa O 2, arterialP O 2 in mm Hg). The hypoxic ventilatory drive,A, averaged 4.1±2.5 l · min−1 · mm Hg (mean±SD), from which a value of 252 l · min−1 · mm Hg was calculated on the basis of appropriate allometric relationships, for a 70 kg body mass. This value is higher than those reported for the anesthetized dog and for human subjects. When end-tidalP O 2 was gradually decreased from hyperoxia to normoxia, a significant increased in\(\dot V_E\) due to an increase in breathing frequency was observed, suggesting that the ventilation of the rat is maintained by a considerable ‘hypoxic drive’ even in normoxia. Furthermore, hypoxic ventilatory depression occurred at a relatively higherPa O 2 level (45–60 mm Hg) than in other species. Thus, in the rat, the ventilation vs. end-tidalP O 2 curve is shifted to the right compared to other species. After section of the carotid sinus nerve, the hypoxic drive (A) was reduced to 11%, indicating that almost all the ventilatory drive of hypoxia was mediated by the carotid chemoreceptors.
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Hayashi, F., Yoshida, A., Fukuda, Y. et al. The ventilatory response to hypoxia in the anesthetized rat. Pflugers Arch. 396, 121–127 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00615516
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00615516