The nature of the renal adaptation to chronic hypocapnia

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Abstract

Metabolic balance studies were carried out in normal dogs to define the renal mechanisms responsible for the adaptation to, and recovery from, chronic hypocapnia. A chronic reduction in arterial CO2 tension (PaCO2) of some 15 mm Hg was achieved by means of chronic exposure of the animals to 9% oxygen in an environmental chamber. The development of hypocapnia was associated with a marked suppression of net acid excretion which, together with a slight accumulation of organic acids, produced a reduction in plasma bicarbonate concentration (8 mEq/liter) that led to nearly full protection of extracellular pH (ΔH+ = - 2.5 nmoles/liter). When PaCO2 was returned to control levels, an augmentation of acid excretion restored plasma composition to normal after a brief period of “posthypocapneic metabolic acidosis.”

Authors

F. John Gennari, Marc B. Goldstein, William B. Schwartz