Arterial Blood pH and pCO2 Changes in Response to CO2 Inhalation after 24 Hours of Passive Hyperventilation

Abstract

Respiratory response to oxygen and 3 concns. of CO2 in O2 ''before and after 24 hrs. of passively imposed hyper-ventilation were obtained on 2 normal adult subjects. When the subjects had reached a steady state breathing each of the gas mixtures, an arterial blood sample was obtained for pH and COo content detns. pCO2 was calculated for each blood sample. Examination of the data so obtained indicates that the increase in response to CO2 which has been shown to exist after 24 hrs. of passively imposed hyperventilation cannot be explained in these expts. entirely on the basis of reduced bicarbonate concn. of the blood which takes place with prolonged overbreathing.