Rat growth, body composition, and renal function during 30 days increased ambient CO2 exposure.
BACKGROUND
In experiments using rodents onboard orbiting spacecraft, specimens may be exposed to an increase in ambient CO2.


OBJECTIVE
Many of the physiological changes reported in rats (and humans) for spaceflight are similar to those observed with increased CO2, raising the question whether the observed changes are due to spaceflight or more specifically, the elevated ambient CO2.


METHODS
To evaluate the effects of increased CO2, at levels similar to those experienced during spaceflight, three groups of adult male rats (n = 10) were exposed to ambient CO2 concentrations of 0.3, 0.7 and 2.0% for 30 d. Control rats were exposed to atmospheric conditions (0.03% CO2) for each group.


RESULTS
There were alterations in water turnover, food intake, and renal function with increased CO2. Blood pH, total CO2, and plasma concentrations of Na+, Ca2+, and corticosterone were significantly elevated at the 2.0% exposure, while plasma PO4(3-) was reduced. At the 0.3% and 0.7% CO2 exposures, many of these changes were not significant. Animals exposed to 0.3% CO2 showed a significant increase in total body Na+. Urinary Ca2+, K+, creatinine, corticosterone, and total CO2 excretion were higher at 2.0%, but only Ca2+ and CO2 excretion were significantly elevated at 0.7%, and there was no significant alteration in renal function at 0.3%.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic increased ambient CO2 levels, similar to those observed on the Space Shuttle and proposed for the International Space Station, elicit compensatory responses in rats which may affect interpretation of experiments designed to evaluate the effects of exposure to microgravity.
Wade
C E
CE
Life Sciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA. cwade@mail.arc.nasa.gov
Wang
T J
TJ
Lang
K C
KC
Corbin
B J
BJ
Steele
M K
MK
D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000142:Acidosis, Respiratory / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology*; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018561:Space Simulation / Q000009:adverse effects*
D002245:Carbon Dioxide