The Effect of Intermittent Exposure to 3% CO2 on Acid-Base Balance and Electrolyte Excretion

Abstract

The effects of intermittent exposure to CO2 on acid-base balance was investigated. One subject was exposed for six days to increasing CO2 rising at a constant rate from 0.03 to 3.0% CO2 within a period of 15 hours followed by a nine hour period of air breathing. To assess the acid-base parameters 'arterialized' capillary blood was taken from the finger twice daily at 8 AM and 11 PM corresponding with the beginning and end of the intermittent exposure to CO2. Urine specimans were collected at the same times daily while venous blood samples were obtained on alternate days. Hydrogen ion concentrations and PCO2 in the arterialized capillary blood were found increased during the air breathing periods of the fourth and fifth day but returned to normal during the sixth day. The elimination of this CO2 accumulation in the blood was accomplished through renal mechanism showing a marked increase in urine volume, organic acids, titratable acidity, ammonia and hydrogen ion excretion during the fourth and fifth day. The stress effect produced by intermittent exposure to CO2 in this subject must have been minimal since the 17-hydroxysteroid excretion did not change.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 16, 1970
Accession Number
AD0722662

Entities

People

  • Arthur A. Messier
  • C. C. Morgan
  • Karl E. Schaefer
  • Michael J. Jacey

Organizations

  • Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Acids
  • Air Breathing
  • Biomedical Research
  • Blood
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Classification
  • Elimination
  • Hydrogen
  • Ions
  • Microvessels
  • Navy
  • Organic Acids
  • Ph Factor
  • Protons
  • Respiration
  • Steroids

Readers

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Mathematics or Statistics