The Maladaptive Renal Response to Secondary Hypocapnia during Chronic HCl Acidosis in the Dog

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Abstract

It has generally been thought that homeostatic mechanisms of renal origin are responsible for minimizing the alkalemia produced by chronic hypocapnia. Recent observations from this laboratory have demonstrated, however, that the decrement in [HCO−3], which “protects” extracellular pH in normal dogs, is simply the by-product of a nonspecific effect of Paco2 on renal hydrogen ion secretion; chronic primary hypocapnia produces virtually the same decrement in plasma [HCO−3] in dogs with chronic HCl acidosis as in normal dogs (Δ[HCO−3]/ΔPaco2 = 0.5), with the result that plasma [H+] in animals with severe acidosis rises rather than falls during superimposed forced hyperventilation.

Authors

Nicolaos E. Madias, William B. Schwartz, Jordan J. Cohen