Use of Inert Gases and Carbon Monoxide to Study the Possible Influence of Countercurrent Exchange on Passive Absorption from the Small Bowel

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Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to quantitate the influence of countercurrent exchange on passive absorption of highly diffusible substances from the small intestine of the rabbit. The absorption of carbon monoxide, which is tightly bound to hemoglobin and therefore cannot exchange, was compared to the absorption of four unbound gases (H2, He, CH4, and 133Xe), which should exchange freely. The degree to which the observed absorption of the unbound gases falls below that predicted from CO absorption should provide a quantitative measure of countercurrent exchange.

Authors

John H. Bond, David G. Levitt, Michael D. Levitt