Abstract
We have previously hypothesised that the number of bubbles evolving during decompression from a dive, and therefore the incidence of decompression sickness (DCS), might be reduced by pretreatment with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO). The inert gas in the gas micronuclei would be replaced by oxygen, which would subsequently be consumed by the mitochondria. This has been demonstrated in the transparent prawn. To investigate whether our hypothesis holds for mammals, we pretreated rats with HBO at 304, 405, or 507 kPa for 20 min, after which they were exposed to air at 1,013 kPa for 33 min and decompressed at 202 kPa/min. Twenty control rats were exposed to air at 1,013 kPa for 32 min, without HBO pretreatment. On reaching the surface, the rat was immediately placed in a rotating cage for 30 min. The animal’s behaviour enabled us to make an early diagnosis of DCS according to accepted symptoms. Rats were examined again after 2 and 24 h. After 2 h, 65% of the control rats had suffered DCS (45% were dead), whereas 35% had no DCS. HBO pretreatment at 304, 405 and 507 kPa significantly reduced the incidence of DCS at 2 h to 40, 40 and 35%, respectively. Compared with the 45% mortality rate in the control group after 24 h, in all of the pretreated groups this was 15%. HBO pretreatment is equally effective at 304, 405 or 507 kPa, bringing about a significant reduction in the incidence of DCS in rats decompressed from 1,013 kPa.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arieli Y, Arieli R, Marx A (2002) Hyperbaric oxygen may reduce gas bubbles in decompressed prawns by eliminating gas nuclei. J Appl Physiol 92:2596–2599
Arieli R, Ertracht O, Oster I, Vitenstein A, Adir Y (2005) Effects of nitrogen and helium on CNS oxygen toxicity in the rat. J Appl Physiol 98:144–150
Arieli R, Svidovsky P, Abramovich A (2007a) Decompression sickness in the rat following a dive on trimix: recompression therapy with oxygen vs. heliox and oxygen. J Appl Physiol 102:1324–1328
Arieli Y, Katsenelson K, Arieli R (2007b) Bubble reduction after decompression in the prawn Palaemon elegans by pretreatment with hyperbaric oxygen. Undersea Hyperb Med (in press)
Bennett PB, Elliott DH (eds) (1993) The physiology and medicine of diving, 4th edn. Saunders, London
Blogg SL, Gennser M, Loveman GAM, Seddon FM, Thacker JC, White MG (2002) The effect of breathing hyperoxic gas during simulated submarine escape on venous gas emboli and decompression illness. Undersea Hyperb Med 30:163–174
Daniels S, Eastaugh KC, Paton WDM, Smith EB (1984) Micronuclei and bubble formation: a quantitative study using the common shrimp, Crangon crangon. In: Bachrach AJ, Matzen MM (eds) Underwater physiology VIII. In: Proceedings of the eighth symposium on underwater physiology. Undersea Medical Society, Bethesda, MD, pp 147–157
Ertracht O, Arieli R, Arieli Y, Ron R, Erlichman Z, Adir Y (2005) Optimal oxygen pressure and time for reduced bubble formation in the N2-saturated decompressed prawn. J Appl Physiol 98:1309–1313
Evans A, Walder DN (1969) Significance of gas micronuclei in the aetiology of decompression sickness. Nature 222:251–252
Flook V (2004) Rapid decompression from air saturation. In: Ornhagen H (ed) Humans in submarines—collection of manuscripts, Stockholm, August 18–20, 2004. 1st Submarine Flotilla, Royal Swedish Navy, Horsfjerden, Sweden, pp 195–200
Kayar SR, Miller TL, Wolin MJ, Aukhert EO, Axley MJ, Kiesow LA (1998) Decompression sickness risk in rats by microbial removal of dissolved gas. Am J Physiol 275:R677–R682
Kindwall EP (1962) Metabolic rate and animal size correlated with decompression sickness. Am J Physiol 203:385–388
Landolfi A, Yang ZJ, Savini F, Camporesi EM, Faralli F, Bosco G (2006) Pre-treatment with hyperbaric oxygenation reduces bubble formation and platelet activation. Sport Sci Health 1:122–128
Latson G, Flynn E, Gerth W, Thalmann E, Maurer J, Lowe M (2000) Accelerated decompression using oxygen for submarine rescue—summary report and operational guidance. Navy Experimental Diving Unit, Panama City, FL (NEDU Technical Report no. 11–00)
Lillo RS, Parker EC (2000) Mixed-gas model for predicting decompression sickness in rats. J Appl Physiol 89:2107–2116
Lillo RS, Parker EC, Porter WR (1997) Decompression comparison of helium and hydrogen in rats. J Appl Physiol 82:892–901
Lin YC (1981) Species independent maximum no-bubble pressure reduction from saturation dive. In: Bachrach AJ, Matzen MM (eds) Underwater physiology VII. In: Proceedings of the seventh symposium on underwater physiology. Undersea Medical Society, Bethesda, MD, pp 699–706
Mahon RT, Dainer HM, Nelson JW (2006) Decompression sickness in a swine model: isobaric denitrogenation and perfluorocarbon at depth. Aviat Space Environ Med 77:8–12
McDonough PM, Hemmingsen EA (1984) Bubble formation in crabs induced by limb motions after decompression. J Appl Physiol 57:117–122
Parker EC, Ball R, Tibbles PM, Weathersby PK (2000) Escape from a disabled submarine: decompression sickness risk estimation. Aviat Space Environ Med 71:109–114
Parker EC, Survanshi SS, Massell PB, Weathersby PK (1998) Probabilistic models of the role of oxygen in human decompression sickness. J Appl Physiol 84:1096–1102
Pilmanis AA, Balldin UI, Webb JT, Krause KM (2003) Staged decompression to 3.5 psi using argon-oxygen and 100% oxygen breathing mixtures. Aviat Space Environ Med 74:1243–1250
Thom SR (1993) Functional inhibition of leukocyte B2 integrins by hyperbaric oxygen in carbon monoxide-mediated brain injury in rats. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 123:248–256
Tikuisis P, Gerth WA (2003) Decompression theory. In: Brubakk AO, Neuman TS (eds) Bennett and Elliott’s physiology and medicine of diving, 5th edn. Saunders, Edinburgh, pp 419–454
Vann RD, Grimstad J, Nielsen CH (1980) Evidence for gas nuclei in decompressed rats. Undersea Biomed Res 7:107–112
Weathersby PK, Hart BL, Flynn ET, Walker WF (1987) Role of oxygen in the production of human decompression sickness. J Appl Physiol 63:2380–2387
Webb JT, Pilmanis AA (1999) Preoxygenation time versus decompression sickness incidence. SAFE J 29:75–78
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Richard Lincoln for skillful editing of the manuscript, Dorit Shteinberg for the statistical analysis, and Menashe Brodezki for technical support. This study was supported in part by a grant from the Public Committee for the Allocation of Estate Funds, Ministry of Justice, Israel. The opinions and assertions contained herein are the private ones of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Israel Naval Medical Institute.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Katsenelson, K., Arieli, Y., Abramovich, A. et al. Hyperbaric oxygen pretreatment reduces the incidence of decompression sickness in rats. Eur J Appl Physiol 101, 571–576 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-007-0528-2
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-007-0528-2