Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 55, Issue 1 16-21, Copyright © 1983 by American Physiological Society
Acclimatization to high altitude in goats with ablated carotid bodies
R. A. Steinbrook, J. C. Donovan, R. A. Gabel, D. E. Leith and V. Fencl
In awake goats with ablated carotid bodies, we studied resting pulmonary
ventilation, CO2 production, composition of arterial blood and
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and ventilatory responsiveness to hyperoxic CO2
rebreathing at sea level (SL) and after 3 days at simulated high altitude
(HA) (PB 446 +/- 5 Torr, equivalent to 4,300 m). At HA, resting pulmonary
ventilation was increased, resulting in marked hypocapnia with appropriate
base deficit in blood plasma; CSF became more alkaline; CO2-response curves
were shifted to lower PCO2 levels, and their slopes were steeper than at
SL. Although these changes in regulation of respiration were not
demonstrably different from those seen after normal acclimatization to HA
with carotid bodies intact, the mechanisms of their initiation and
development are probably different.
