The effect of temperature on gas trapping in excised lungs

Abstract

In this study the effect of temperature on gas trapping in excised lungs was examined with two types of experiments in rats. In the first, changes in gas trapping following ten successive inflation-deflation cycles at the same constant ventilation rate were examined at 17, 27, 37 and 42°C. In the second, the effects of five different ventilation rates at temperatures of 17, 27 and 37°C were determined. The fraction of gas trapped in lungs repeatedly ventilated for ten inflation-deflation cycles at constant ventilation rates remained nearly constant with time at 17 and 27°C but decreased with time at 37 and 42°C. The amount of gas trapped in the lung at 27°C fell with the logarithm of increasing ventilation rate. Lowering the temperature shifted this relationship toward lower ventilation rates while increasing the temperature caused an apparent shift toward higher ventilation rates.