AN EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE FOR QUANTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL HYPERBARIC FACTORS AFFECTING THE PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE OF THE RAT

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses an experimental procedure for quantification of individual hyperbaric factors affecting the physical performance of the rat. The hyperbaric environment is a complex set of physical variables, which includes hydrostatic pressure, gas density, ambient pressure, partial pressure of inspired oxygen, carbon dioxide, inert gases, and possibly interactions between these factors. Density of the breathing gases is the main factor affecting maximum voluntary ventilation at depth, which is one of the indices of respiratory capacity. In an experiment described in the chapter, impairment of ventilation in high gas density environments obtained either by increasing ambient pressure or by changing in gas composition was determined to be caused by a combination of airway resistance and inherent limitations in the ventilatory apparatus of man. The increased density of breathing mixture causes elevated respiratory efforts but reduces the capacity of oxygen uptake and, hence, the work capacity.