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CO 2 rebreathing: an undergraduate lab to study the chemical control of breathing
Author(s) -
Domnik Nicolle Jasmin,
Turcotte Scott E,
Yuen Nathaniel Y,
Iscoe Steve,
Fisher John T
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.518.8
Subject(s) - hyperventilation , reproducibility , breathing , anesthesia , ventilation (architecture) , multiple chemical sensitivity , medicine , chemistry , audiology , engineering , chromatography , mechanical engineering , psychiatry
Duffin and McAvoy's (1988) modification of the Read (1967) CO 2 rebreathing (CO 2 RB) method is widely used to study chemical control of breathing (ChemoCB). We used a CO 2 RB laboratory to challenge undergraduate science majors (to investigate the ChemoCB). We collated and analyzed 8 years of data to study the reproducibility of the laboratory and compared the results to the literature. Students (aged 19–21 yrs; IRB approval) performed the technique using a rebreathing bag containing 95% O 2 to suppress peripheral chemoreceptor activity. Ventilation was measured following hyperventilation to deplete tissue CO 2 stores, which also enhances detection of the central chemoreflex threshold (CCT). Data were analyzed by 3 investigators. Of 37 data sets, 7 were rejected due to technical issues. CO 2 sensitivity and CCT were 4.69±3.12 L/min/mmHg (mean±SD) and 43.5±3.9 mmHg respectively. The CCT was normally distributed, whereas sensitivity was skewed to the left. Values agree well with those reported by Duffin & McAvoy (1988). We conclude CO 2 RB is a robust method for undergraduate investigation of the principles of chemical control of breathing. Funded by Queen's University, NSERC and CIHR.