THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ARGON, HELIUM AND THE RARE GASES.
Abstract
Information related to the mechanism of inert gas effects on biological systems has been developed in studies on the molecular, cellular and intact animal level. Tyrosinase and lipoxidase are inhibited by helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, nitrogen, sulfur hexafluoride and nitrous oxide. Effectiveness of inhibition (1.9% per atm N2O for nitrous oxide) generally increases with increasing solubility of the gas. Acetyl cholinesterase is inhibited by sulfur hexafluoride and nitrous oxide only. A similar inhibitory action of helium group gases, hydrogen, nitrogen and nitrous oxide was observed with epithelial-type (HeLa) and fibroblast-type (L-929), mammalian cells in culture. In inhibitory effectiveness, these gases rank in the following order: He, Ne, N2, H2<Ar <Kr <Xe <N2O. Helium, neon, nitrogen and argon differ in the severity of decompression sickness elicited in small laboratory animals as follows: He, Ne <N2 <Ar. In the rabbit, good correlation was observed between the development of symptoms of decompression sickness and the rise of three selected plasma enzymes (GOT, GPT and LDH). (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 31, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0487483
Entities
People
- G. F. Doebbler
- H. R. Schreiner
- J. H. Bruemmer