A system for rapid measurement of lung function in small animals.
A semiautomated system has been developed to facilitate the rapid measurement of a variety of pulmonary functional parameters in small animals. They include lung volumes, mechanics, flow-volume curves, nitrogen washout curves, and diffusing capacity. The animals are anesthetized, intubated, and ventilated mechanically. The construction of the system is described in detail and the results obtained on rats are compared with those published by other investigators.
D000818:Animals; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D010993:Plethysmography, Whole Body / Q000295:instrumentation*; D051381:Rats