Arterial blood gases of the domestic hen

Abstract

Individual blood samples were collected anaerobically from the brachial arteries of adult White Rock hens and were analyzed for Po₂, Pco₂, pH, oxygen content and capacity, and CO₂ content and capacity. A dissociation curve was constructed from data on equilibration of pooled venous blood. The average arterial oxygen saturation was 90%, the Pco₂ was about 32 mm Hg, the Po₂ was between 94 and 99 mm Hg, and the pH averaged 7.49. The dissociation curve, as has been shown before, was shifted to the right of most homeothermic species.