dinoprost and Hypocapnia

While studying the significance of the short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the pathogenesis of hyperventilation, we have found that experimental rabbits injected with SCFA sodium salt (4 mmol/kg b.wt) develop hyperventilation 20 min later. This hyperventilation results in a decrease of PCO2 in the arterial blood from 32.05 +/- 1.18 to 24.55 +/- 0.83 (p < 0.001). The SCFAs also bring about pronounced mixed alkalosis. The prostaglandin F2-alpha (PGF2-alpha) in both the arterial and venous blood of rabbits increased significantly after treatment with SCFAs salts. If the rabbits are pretreated with indomethacin (10 mg/kg), the SCFAs do not cause hyperventilation. Therefore we can conclude, that the SCFAs bring about hyperventilation through an increase in the PGF2-alpha synthesis.

Topics: Alkalosis; Animals; Carbon Dioxide; Dinoprost; Fatty Acids; Hyperventilation; Hypocapnia; Indomethacin; Male; Oxygen; Partial Pressure; Rabbits