title: Tissue oxygenation and splenic erythropoiesis during chronic hypoxia and hypercapnia.
abstract: Tissue (gas pocket) oxygen levels and erythropoietic activity were monitored in groups of rats chronically exposed to hypoxia (70 Torr PIO2), hypercapnia (60 Torr PICO2), or a combination of the two conditions. Arterial gas tensions and pH were also measured. Overall condition of the animals was assessed by comparison of growth rates with pair-fed controls. Hypoxic-hypercapnic pocket PO2 values (24-40 Torr) were similar to normoxic-normocapnic values (28-37 Torr), but greater than in hypoxia-normocapnia, and less than in normoxia-hypercapnia. Erythropoietic activity during hypoxia-hypercapnia ceased and the rats had a growth rate significantly below that of other groups. While chronic CO2 does increase tissue (pocket) oxygenation to near normal levels, probably due to increased ventilation and subsequently PaO2, the hypoxic-hypercapnic rats evidenced greater detrimental effects than did rats in hypoxic or hypercapnic environments.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D004920:Erythropoiesis; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006935:Hypercapnia; D000860:Hypoxia; D008112:Liver Glycogen; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D013154:Spleen / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008112:Liver Glycogen; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen