Journal of Applied Physiology Fuel your research with LabChart
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J Appl Physiol 45: 922-926, 1978;
8750-7587/78 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Davies, D. G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Davies, D. G.

Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 45, Issue 6 922-926, Copyright © 1978 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Temperature-induced changes in blood acid-base status in the alligator, Alligator mississipiensis

D. G. Davies

Gas exchange and arterial blood acid-base status were measured in 13 conscious alligators, Alligator mississipiensis, at 15, 25, and 35 degrees C. Arterial pH decreased by 0.250 units (from 7.635 to 7.385) and arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure increased by 11.4 Torr (from 11.8 to 23.2) as body temperature increased from 15 to 35 degrees C. No statistically significant changes occurred in arterial bicarbonate concentration. When OH-/H+ and alpha-imidazole were compared at each temperature, more variability was observed in OH-/H+, which increased from 8.7 to 12.0 as temperature increased from 15 to 35 degrees C. alpha-Imidazole remained essentially constant (0.76 at 15 degrees C and 0.80 at 35 degrees C). Body temperature increase caused marked increases in minute ventilation (VE), oxygen consumption (VO2), and carbon dioxide production (VCO2). The relative changes in these parameters resulted in a decrease in both VE/VO2 and VE/VCO2. The data of the present study are consistent with the concept that poikilotherms regulate their alveolar ventilation with changes in body temperature in order to keep OH-/H+ or alpha-imidazole constant.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
R. F. Burton
Temperature and acid--base balance in ectothermic vertebrates: the imidazole alphastat hypotheses and beyond
J. Exp. Biol., December 1, 2002; 205(23): 3587 - 3600.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online