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AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 257, Issue 1 132-R135, Copyright © 1989 by American Physiological Society
ARTICLES |
P. E. Bickler, S. O. Koh and J. W. Severinghaus
Anesthesia Department, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0542.
Low arterial CO2 tension (PaCO2) experienced by birds during high-altitude flight may result in cerebral vasoconstriction with reduced cerebral O2 delivery. To test this, brain redox balance and blood volume were studied during severe hypocapnia (PaCO2 11-20 mmHg) in ducks. Cerebrocortical redox balance, measured as relative [NADH], and blood volume were measured simultaneously with a fiber-optic fluorometer-reflectometer. Cerebrocortical blood volume (an index of blood flow) fell nearly linearly with PaCO2 during severe hypocapnia, even during severe hypoxemia. Cerebrocortical redox balance was shifted toward reduction of NADH ([NADH] increased) by both hypoxemia and hypocapnia. If hypocapnia causes similar changes in brain blood flow during high-altitude flight, tissue hypoxia will be exacerbated. Tolerance of brain tissue hypoxia during flight may be an important adaptation in high-flying birds.
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