Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 49, Issue 2 197-203, Copyright © 1980 by American Physiological Society
Dynamic respiratory mechanics in intact anesthetized hamsters
G. L. Strope, C. L. Cox, R. L. Pimmel and W. A. Clyde Jr
A system for measuring parameters of ventilation and respiratory mechanics
in intact anesthetized hamsters was developed. Means +/- SD of five weekly
measurements in eight hamsters were 0.68 +/- 0.09 ml for tidal volume, 45
+/- 14 breaths.min-1 for respiratory frequency, 29.3 +/- 10.4 ml.min-1 for
minute ventilation, 0.301 +/- 0.080 ml.cmH2O-1 for dynamic compliance,
0.435 +/- 0.151 cmH2O.ml-1.s for inspiratory resistance, 0.311 +/- 0.101
cmH2O.ml-1.s for expiratory resistance, and 0.334 +/- 0.096 cmH2O.ml-1.s
for average resistance. The standard deviations of five consecutive
measurements of these parameters on the same day were typically 10% of the
corresponding mean values suggesting that acute changes as small as 10% can
be detected in a study of similar size. The corresponding value for five
single measurements on different days at weekly intervals was 30%. We
believe that this system yields reasonable and repeatable measurements,
and, because it is atraumatic, it can be used in chronic studies of
diseases in hamsters and other small animals.
