Ventilatory response to hypoxia and hypercapnia in the torpid bat, Eptesicus fuscus

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Publication Date

4-1-1992

Publication Title

Respiration Physiology

Volume Number

88

Issue Number

1-2

Abstract

Ventilatory pattern and ventilatory responses to hypercapnia and hypoxia were investigated in torpid big brown bats at body temperaturesof 5, 10, 20, 30 and 37°C. The pattern of breathing at temperatures below 30°C was intermittent, consisting of rhythmic breathing bouts separated by apneic periods with occasional sporadic, non-rhythmic breathing episodes. Overall ventilation (V̇e) was matched consistently to overall oxygen consumption (Ṁo2) over the entire range of temperatures with a mean air convection requirement (V̇e/Ṁo2) of 1.28 L/mmol. However, calculating the air convection requirement using only oxygen uptake acquired during ventilation yielded an ectotherm-like temperature relationship. Ventilation was stimulated at all temperatures by either increased inspired CO2 or decreased inspired O2, At 20°C, graded hypercapnic stimulation increased the duration of the rhythmic bouts and decreased the duration of apneas until at high CO2 (>3%) breathing was continuous. Hypoxic stimulation below about 7% O2 increased ventilation by selectively increasing the non-rhythmic ventilations and decreasing rhythmic bouts.

Keywords

Bats, Respiration, Hibernation, Hypoxia, Hypercapnia

Document Type

Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1016/0034-5687(92)90042-U

Language

English

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