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Biomedical subjects

M A Busch

Publications and source records attributed to M A Busch.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A molecular link between stem cell regulation and floral patterning in Arabidopsis.

The homeotic gene AGAMOUS (AG) has dual roles in specifying organ fate and limiting stem cell proliferation in Arabidopsis flowers. We show that the floral identity protein LEAFY (LFY), a transcription factor expressed throughout the flower, cooperates with the homeodomain protein WUSCHEL (WUS) to activate AG in the center of flowers. WUS was previously identified because of its role in maintaining stem cell populations in both shoot and floral meristems. The unsuspected additional role of WUS in regulating floral homeotic gene expression supports the hypothesis that floral patterning uses a general meristem patterning system that was present before flowers evolved. We also show that AG represses WUS at later stages of floral development, thus creating a negative feedback loop that is required for the determinate growth of floral meristems.

AGAMOUS Protein, Arabidopsis↗

Interaction between electron transport at the plasma membrane and nitrate uptake by maize (Zea mays L.) roots.

In the present study nitrate uptake by maize (Zea mays L.) roots was investigated in the presence or absence of ferricyanide (hexacyanoferrate III) or dicumarol. Nitrate uptake caused an alkalization of the medium. Nitrate uptake of intact maize seedlings was inhibited by ferricyanide while the effect of dicumarol was not very pronounced. Nitrite was not detected in the incubation medium, neither with dicumarol-treated nor with control plants after application of 100 microM nitrate to the incubation solution. In a second set of experiments interactions between nitrate and ferricyanide were investigated in vivo and in vitro. Nitrate (1 or 3 mM) did neither influence ferricyanide reductase activity of intact maize roots nor NADH-ferricyanide oxidoreductase activity of isolated plasma membranes. Nitrate reductase activity of plasma-membrane-enriched fractions was slightly stimulated by 25 microM dicumarol but was not altered by 100 microM dicumarol, while NADH-ferricyanide oxidoreductase activity was inhibited in the presence of dicumarol. These data suggest that plasma-membrane-bound standard-ferricyanide reductase and nitrate reductase activities of maize roots may be different. A possible regulation of nitrate uptake by plasmalemma redox activity, as proposed by other groups, is discussed.

Biological Transport↗

Breakthrough cancer pain: a randomized trial comparing oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC) and morphine sulfate immediate release (MSIR).

Oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC); Actiq) is a drug delivery formulation used for management of breakthrough cancer pain. Previous studies with open-label comparisons indicated OTFC was more effective than patients' usual opioid for breakthrough pain. The objective of this study was to compare OTFC and morphine sulfate immediate release (MSIR) for management of breakthrough pain in patients receiving a fixed scheduled opioid regimen. This double-blind, double-dummy, randomized, multiple crossover study was conducted at 19 US university- and community-based hospitals and clinics and comprised 134 adult ambulatory cancer patients. Patients were receiving a fixed scheduled opioid regimen equivalent to 60-1000 mg/day oral morphine or 50-300 microg/h transdermal fentanyl, were using a 'successful' MSIR dose (15-60 mg) as defined by entry criteria, and were experiencing 1-4 episodes of breakthrough pain per day. In open-label fashion, OTFC was titrated such that a single unit (200-1600 microg) provided adequate pain relief with acceptable side effects. Successfully titrated patients entered the double-blind phase of the study and received ten prenumbered sets of randomized capsules and oral transmucosal units. Five sets were the successful OTFC dose paired with placebo capsules, and five sets were placebo OTFC paired with capsules containing the successful MSIR dose. Patients took one set of study medication for each episode of target breakthrough pain. Pain intensity (PI), pain relief (PR) and global performance of medication (GP) scores were recorded. Pain intensity differences (PID) were calculated and 15-min PID was the primary efficacy variable. Adverse events were recorded. Sixty-nine percent of patients (93/134) found a successful dose of OTFC. OTFC yielded outcomes (PI, PID, and PR) at all time points that were significantly better than MSIR. GP also favored OTFC and more patients opted to continue with OTFC than MSIR following the study. Somnolence, nausea, constipation, and dizziness were the most common drug-associated side effects. In conclusion, OTFC was more effective than MSIR in treating breakthrough cancer pain.

Administration, Oral↗

Long-term safety of oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate for breakthrough cancer pain.

This open-label study evaluated the long-term safety and tolerability of oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC) in ambulatory cancer patients with breakthrough pain undergoing cancer care at 32 university- or community-based practices. Patients had participated in a previous short-term titration trial of OTFC, were experiencing at least one episode per day of breakthrough pain, and had achieved relief of their breakthrough pain with an opioid. Patients received OTFC units at a starting dosage strength determined in the short-term trial (200-1600 microg). Outcome measures included number of successfully treated breakthrough pains, global satisfaction rating (0 = poor through 4 = excellent), and side effects. In total, 41,766 units of OTFC were used to treat 38,595 episodes of breakthrough pain in 155 patients. Number of treatment days ranged from 1 to 423 (mean, 91 days). Patients averaged 2.9 breakthrough pain episodes per day. About 92% of episodes were successfully treated with OTFC and there was no trend toward decreased effectiveness over time. Most patients (61%) did not require dose escalation during treatment. Global satisfaction ratings were consistently above 3, indicating very good to excellent relief. Common adverse events associated with OTFC were somnolence (9%), constipation (8%), nausea (8%), dizziness (8%), and vomiting (5%). Six patients (4%) discontinued therapy due to an OTFC-related adverse event. There were no reports of abuse and no concerns about the safety of the drug raised by patients or families. OTFC was used safely and effectively during long-term treatment of breakthrough pain in cancer patients at home.

Administration, Oral↗

Activation of a floral homeotic gene in Arabidopsis.

The patterned expression of floral homeotic genes in Arabidopsis depends on the earlier action of meristem-identity genes such as LEAFY, which encodes a transcription factor that determines whether a meristem will generate flowers instead of leaves and shoots. The LEAFY protein, which is expressed throughout the flower, participates in the activation of homeotic genes, which are expressed in specific regions of the flower. Analysis of a LEAFY-responsive enhancer in the homeotic gene AGAMOUS indicates that direct interaction of LEAFY with this enhancer is required for its activity in plants. Thus, LEAFY is a direct upstream regulator of floral homeotic genes.

AGAMOUS Protein, Arabidopsis↗

Oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC) for the treatment of breakthrough pain in cancer patients: a controlled dose titration study.

Oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC) is a novel opioid formulation in which the potent synthetic mu-agonist fentanyl is embedded in a sweetened matrix that is dissolved in the mouth. It is undergoing investigation as a treatment for cancer-related breakthrough pain, a prevalent phenomenon defined as a transitory flare of moderate to severe pain that interrupts otherwise controlled persistent pain. There have been no controlled trials of other treatments for this condition. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ascending doses of OTFC, a novel controlled dose titration methodology was developed that applied blinding and randomization procedures to the evaluation of recurrent pains in the home environment. The study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind dose titration study in ambulatory cancer patients. The sample comprised adult patients receiving a scheduled oral opioid regimen equivalent to 60-1000 mg oral morphine per day, who were experiencing at least one episode per day of breakthrough pain and had achieved at least partial relief of this pain by use of an oral opioid rescue dose. After collection of 2 days of baseline data concerning the efficacy of the usual rescue drug, patients were randomly treated with either 200 or 400 microg OTFC unit doses in double-blind fashion. Up to two breakthrough pains each day could be treated with up to four OTFC unit doses per pain. OTFC in unit doses containing 200, 400, 600, 800, 1200 or 1600 microg of fentanyl citrate were available for the study. The unit dose was titrated upward in steps until the patient had 2 consecutive days on which breakthrough pain could be treated with the single unit dose, titration was ineffective at a 1600 microg unit dose, or 20 days elapsed. To maintain the double-blind, orders to titrate up were ignored one-third of the time according to a pre-defined randomization schedule accessible only to an unblinded study pharmacist. Main outcome measures included, numeric or categorical measures of pain intensity, pain relief, and global assessment of drug performance. Dose response relationships were found suggesting that the methodology was sensitive to opioid effects. Seventy-four percent of patients were successfully titrated. There was no relationship between the total daily dose of the fixed schedule opioid regimen and the dose of OTFC required to manage the breakthrough pain. Although the study was not designed to provide a definitive comparison between OTFC and the usual rescue drug, exploratory analyses found that OTFC provided significantly greater analgesic effect at 15, 30 and 60 min, and a more rapid onset of effect, than the usual rescue drug. Adverse effects of the OTFC were typically opioid-related, specifically somnolence, nausea and dizziness. Very few adverse events were severe or serious. This study demonstrated the feasibility of controlled trial methodology in studies of breakthrough pain. OTFC appears to be a safe and effective therapy for breakthrough pain, and dose titration can usually identify a unit dose capable of providing adequate analgesia. If the lack of a relationship between the effective OTFC dose and fixed schedule opioid regimen is confirmed, dose titration may be needed in the clinical use of this formulation. Further investigation of OTFC as a specific treatment for breakthrough pain is warranted.

Administration, Oral↗

The relative potency of oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate compared with intravenous morphine in the treatment of moderate to severe postoperative pain.

UNLABELLED: Pharmacokinetic studies have shown that oral transmucosal absorption of fentanyl is relatively rapid compared with gastrointestinal absorption, and it results in increased bioavailability. We designed this study to establish the relative potency of oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC) compared with i.v. morphine in 133 postoperative patients. The morning after surgery, patients randomly received one dose of either OTFC (200 or 800 microg) and a placebo i.v. injection or i.v. morphine (2 or 10 mg) and an oral transmucosal placebo unit. Pain intensity, pain relief, time to meaningful pain relief, and time to remedication were recorded. Median time to onset of relief was approximately 5 min for all groups. Over the first hour, little difference among treatment groups was seen for pain intensity and pain relief. By 2 h after study drug administration, 800 microg of OTFC and 10 mg of i.v. morphine generally produced similar analgesia, which was better than the smaller doses. Duration of analgesia with the larger doses (800 microg of OTFC and 10 mg of morphine) was similar and longer that produced by the smaller doses. The larger doses of OTFC and morphine produced better and more sustained analgesia than 200 microg of OTFC or 2 mg of morphine. IMPLICATIONS: The relative potency of oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC) to i.v. morphine was 8-14:1. In this postoperative setting, OTFC produced rapid pain relief similar to that produced by i.v. morphine. The larger doses of OTFC (800 microg) and morphine (10 mg) produced better and more sustained analgesia than 200 microg of OTFC or 2 mg of morphine.

Administration, Oral↗

A genetic framework for floral patterning.

The initial steps of flower development involve two classes of consecutively acting regulatory genes. Meristem-identity genes, which act early to control the initiation of flowers, are expressed throughout the incipient floral primordium. Homeotic genes, which act later to specify the identity of individual floral organs, are expressed in distinct domains within the flower. The link between the two classes of genes has remained unknown so far. Here we show that the meristem-identity gene LEAFY has a role in controlling homeotic genes that is separable from its role in specifying floral fate. On the basis of our observation that LEAFY activates different homeotic genes through distinct mechanisms, we propose a genetic framework for the control of floral patterning.

AGAMOUS Protein, Arabidopsis↗

Characterization of breakthrough pain by hospice patients and their caregivers.

This study sought to characterize the nature of breakthrough pain experienced by 22 hospice patients and to assess the perceptions of their respective caregivers. Questionnaires were administered by trained hospice nurses to determine key elements of episodic pains in this home-based terminally ill population. Eighty-six percent of the patients surveyed experienced breakthrough pain, with an average of 2.9 episodes per 24-hr period and a mean pain intensity of 7 on a ten-point scale, compared with average baseline pain scores of 3.6 (daytime) and 2.6 (nighttime). Breakthrough pain episodes lasted 52 min on average, with a range of 1-240 min. The range of time to relief of breakthrough pains was 5-60 min, with a mean of 30 min. Caregivers' perceptions of the pain intensities, duration, amount of relief, and time to relief were much more likely to be inaccurate, and were usually underestimates. This study suggests that breakthrough pain is common in the hospice setting and that there is poor concordance between patients' self-reports and their caregivers' perceptions of these pains. It is concluded that the pharmacodynamics of currently available oral analgesics are not well-suited for breakthrough pain and that better communication between patients and caregivers may lead to more optimal pain management.

Adolescent↗

Dose proportionality and pharmacokinetics of oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate.

BACKGROUND: The pharmacokinetics of a single dose (15 microg/kg) of oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC) have been characterized. A range of doses may eventually be used in clinical practice. The goal of this study was to determine if the pharmacokinetics of OTFC are dose proportional for doses ranging from 200 to 1,600 microg. METHODS: Twelve healthy male volunteers were studied on four different occasions, receiving 200, 400, 800, and 1,600 microg OTFC in a double-blind, randomized protocol. Venous blood samples were collected at selected times during and after dosing for a 24-h period and assayed for fentanyl using a radioimmunoassay. Maximum concentration, time to maximum concentration, area under the curve, and elimination half-life were determined for each dose administered. In addition, respiratory rate, need for verbal prompting to breathe, and supplemental oxygen requirements were noted. RESULTS: Mean fentanyl concentration time curves were similarly shaped with increasing doses. Both peak concentrations and area under the curve increased linearly with an increase in dose, whereas time to reach peak serum concentrations did not vary significantly between doses. Except for the 200-microg dose, the apparent elimination half-life remained relatively constant (358-386 min). The incidence of low respiratory rate, supplemental oxygen requirement, and number of breathing prompts significantly increased with increasing doses. CONCLUSIONS: Oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate exhibits dose-proportional pharmacokinetics over the dose range of 200-1,600 microg.

Administration, Oral↗

Dose-titration, multicenter study of oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate for the treatment of breakthrough pain in cancer patients using transdermal fentanyl for persistent pain.

PURPOSE: Supplemental, "as-needed," administration of an opioid is a common approach to the problem of breakthrough pain in cancer patients. Oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate (OTFC) is undergoing investigation as a new treatment for breakthrough pain. The primary purpose of the study was to demonstrate that a single-unit dose of OTFC can safely and effectively treat breakthrough pain. A secondary goal was to determine appropriate dosing guidelines. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, dose-titration study in 62 adult cancer patients using transdermal fentanyl for persistent pain. Consenting patients provided 2 days of baseline data to evaluate the performance of their usual breakthrough pain medication. Patients then randomly received 200 microg or 400 microg OTFC in double-blind fashion. (Patients were always assigned, rather than randomized, to 200 microg if 400 microg represented > 20% of around-the-clock medication.) Pain intensity (PI), pain relief (PR), and global satisfaction scores were recorded. OTFC was then titrated until the patient received adequate PR for each episode using one OTFC unit. Orders to titrate up were ignored one third of the time to improve the blind. Two days of baseline data were compared with 2 days of OTFC data after titration identified an effective dose of OTFC. RESULTS: Most patients (76%) found a safe and effective dose of OTFC. There was no meaningful relationship between the around-the-clock opioid regimen and the effective dose of OTFC. In open-label comparisons, OTFC produced a faster onset of relief and a greater degree of PR than patients' usual breakthrough medication. Somnolence, nausea, and dizziness were the most common side effects associated with OTFC. CONCLUSION: Most patients find a single OTFC dosage that adequately treats breakthrough pain. The optimal dose is found by titration and is not predicted by around-the-clock dose of opioids.

Administration, Buccal↗

Ventilatory effects of single, high-dose triazolam in awake human subjects.

The respiratory-depressant effect of the benzodiazepine-derived hypnotic triazolam was investigated with a single oral dose at two and three times the usual dosage in 62 awake normal subjects. A randomized, double-blind protocol compared the following groups: (1) placebo, (2) triazolam, 1.0 mg, (3) triazolam, 1.5 mg, and (4) morphine, 0.15 mg/kg. Differences between predrug and postdrug administration were compared. Minute ventilation (Ve), end-tidal PCO2, and the ventilatory response to CO2 (Ve/PCO2) were preserved with both 1.0 mg and 1.5 mg triazolam compared with placebo. Triazolam caused an increase in breathing frequency (+21% to 50%; p less than 0.05) as a result of a shortening of inspiratory time. Triazolam was associated with a higher Ve corrected for CO2 production and Ve/PCO2 compared with morphine. We concluded that a single dose of triazolam at two and three times the usual level does not cause respiratory depression in awake, normal subjects but does alter respiratory cycle timing causing an increase in breathing frequency.

Adult↗

Carotid body hypercapnia does not elicit ventilatory acclimatization in goats.

The carotid body (CB) perfusion model utilizes surgical vascular ligations to allow isolated blood supply to a single in situ CB in awake goats. The contralateral CB was excised. By use of an extracorporeal pump-oxygenator system the blood gas composition perfusing the CB can be controlled independently from that of the systemic arterial system including the brain. Using this model we compared the responses of systemically normoxic goats to CB hypercapnia and CB hypoxia. In 6 goats CB stimulation with hypercapnic-normoxic blood (mean PcbCO2 = 78 Torr, mean PcbO2 congruent to 100 Torr) produced acute hyperventilation (mean decrease in PaCO2 of 5.2 Torr, P less than 0.05) which remained constant over the 4-h perfusion period. Lack of a progressively increasing hyperventilation indicates that ventilatory acclimatization did not occur with hypercapnic CB perfusion. Hypoxic-normocapnic CB stimulation (mean PcbO2 = 40 Torr, mean PcbCO2 = 39 Torr) produced an acute mean decrease in PaCO2 of 5.5 Torr (P less than 0.05) in 6 additional goats. In contrast to CB hypercapnia, the acute hyperventilation induced by CB hypoxia was followed by a progressive time-dependent additional mean decrease in PaCO2 of 5.6 Torr (P less than 0.05) over a 4-h period (ventilatory acclimatization). These data are compatible with the concept of separate receptor mechanisms for hypercapnia and hypoxia in the CB and suggest that the early phase of ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia in goats may result from a time-dependent increase in CB afferent output.

Acclimatization↗

Ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia is not dependent on cerebral hypocapnic alkalosis.

We previously demonstrated that, in awake goats, 6 h of hypoxic carotid body perfusion during systemic normoxia produced time-dependent hyperventilation that is typical of ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia (VAH). The hypocapnic alkalosis that occurred could have produced VAH by inducing cerebral vasoconstriction and brain lactic acidosis even though systemic arterial normoxia was maintained. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that hypocapnic alkalosis is a necessary component of VAH. Goats were prepared so that one carotid body could be perfused, from an extracorporeal circuit, with blood in which gas tensions could be controlled independently from the blood perfusing the systemic arterial system, including the brain. Using this preparation we carried out 4 h of hypoxic carotid body perfusion while maintaining systemic arterial (and brain) normoxia in awake goats. Expired minute ventilation (VE) was measured while CO2 was added to inspired air to maintain normocapnia. Carotid body PCO2 and PO2 were maintained near 40 Torr during the 4-h carotid body perfusion. Control mean VE was 8.65 +/- 0.48 l/min (mean +/- SE). With acute carotid body hypoxia (30 min) VE increased to 21.73 +/- 2.02 l/min (P less than 0.05); over the ensuing 3.5 h of carotid body hypoxia, VE progressively increased to 39.14 +/- 4.14 l/min (P less than 0.05). These data indicate that neither cerebral hypoxia nor hypocapnic alkalosis are required to produce VAH. After termination of the 4-h carotid body stimulation, hyperventilation was not maintained in these studies, i.e., there was no deacclimatization. This suggests that acclimatization and deacclimatization are produced by different mechanisms.

Acclimatization↗

Transmural coronary vasodilator reserve and flow distribution in unanesthetized calves sojourning at 3500 m.

Regional myocardial blood flow (MBF; 15-micron-diam radionuclide-labeled microspheres) was studied in six unanesthetized calves sojourning at 3500 m (PB = 500 mm Hg) for 53 +/- 2 days. These high-altitude (HA)-exposed calves were studied during chronic hypoxemia (PaO2 = 48 +/- 1 mm Hg), maximal coronary vasodilation, and during acute normoxemia (PaO2 = 91 +/- 1 mm Hg). Nine calves born and raised at sea level (SL) were also studied at matched PaO2 during chronic normoxemia, maximal coronary vasodilation, and acute hypoxemia to serve as control. Marked pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy were present in HA calves. Left ventricular (LV) MBF of HA calves during chronic hypoxemia (1.05 +/- 0.11 ml X min-1 X g-1) was similar to that of normoxemic SL calves (1.11 +/- 0.06 ml X min-1 X g-1) but MBF in their hypertrophied RV (1.65 +/- 0.21 ml X min-1 X g-1) exceeded that in normoxemic SL calves (0.47 +/- 0.06 ml X min-1 X g-1). More interesting was the finding that RV and LV MBF of HA calves did not change between chronic hypoxemia and acute normoxemia. By contrast, acute hypoxemia of a similar degree caused a dramatic increase in RV as well as LV MBF of SL calves. Minimal LV coronary vascular resistance was similar in the two groups of calves. This meant that functional cross-sectional area of LV coronary vascular bed was not altered in response to sojourn at HA. Minimal RV coronary vascular resistance of HA calves was also not different from that of SL calves. This means that functional cross-sectional area of the RV coronary vascular bed in HA calves increased proportionately with the increase in their RV mass.

Adenosine↗

Interaction between cold and altitude exposure on pulmonary circulation of cattle.

Hereford calves were exposed in a temperature-controlled hypobaric chamber to environmental temperatures of -2 to 1 degree C (cold) at altitudes of 1,524 m (resident altitude) and 3,048 m 1) to characterize the effects of cold exposure on the pulmonary circulation; 2) to examine the role of cold-induced hypoventilation on the pulmonary circulation; and 3) to examine the interaction between cold and hypoxia on the pulmonary circulation. Cold exposure produced a significant increase in pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa), pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (Ppaw), and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) at both 1,524 and 3,048 m without affecting cardiac output. Concomitantly, cold exposure caused reductions in minute ventilation, respiratory rate, end-tidal O2 tension (PETO2), and arterial O2 tension (PaO2). Tidal volume, end-tidal CO2 tension, and arterial CO2 tension increased. Neither arterial pH nor O2 consumption changed during cold exposure. These results indicated that both pulmonary arterial and venous vasoconstriction were responsible for the pulmonary hypertension associated with cold exposure. Acute exposure to 3,048 m during cold exposure produced increases in Ppa and PVR that were similar to those elicited by cold exposure at 1,524. It was concluded that altitude exposure neither attenuated nor potentiated the effect of cold exposure on the pulmonary circulation; rather, altitude and cold exposure interacted additively. O2 administered during cold exposure to restore PETO2 and PaO2 to control values partially restored Ppa and PVR to control values. This suggested that a portion of the pulmonary hypertension associated with cold exposure was due to hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction elicited by the cold-induced alveolar hypoventilation.

Altitude↗

Ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia is not dependent on arterial hypoxemia.

Goats were prepared so that one carotid body (CB) could be perfused with blood in which the gas tensions could be controlled independently from the blood perfusing the systemic arterial system, including the brain. Since one CB is functionally adequate, the nonperfused CB was excised. To determine whether systemic arterial hypoxemia is necessary for ventilatory acclimatization to hypoxia (VAH), the CB was perfused with hypoxic normocapnic blood for 6 h [means +/- SE: partial pressure of carotid body O2 (PcbO2), 40.6 +/- 0.3 Torr; partial pressure of carotid body CO2 (PcbCO2), 38.8 +/- 0.2 Torr] while the awake goat breathed room air to maintain systemic arterial normoxia. In control periods before and after CB hypoxia the CB was perfused with hyperoxic normocapnic blood. Changes in arterial PCO2 (PaCO2) were used as an index of changes in ventilation. Acute hypoxia (0.5 h of hypoxic perfusion) resulted in hyperventilation sufficient to reduce average PaCO2 by 6.7 Torr from control (P less than 0.05). Over the subsequent 5.5 h of hypoxic perfusion, average PaCO2 decreased further, reaching 4.8 Torr below that observed acutely (P less than 0.05). Acute CB hyperoxic perfusion (20 min) following 6 h of hypoxia resulted in only partial restoration of PaCO2 toward control values; PaCO2 remained 7.9 Torr below control (P less than 0.05). The progressive hyperventilation that occurred during and after 6 h of CB hypoxia with concomitant systemic normoxia is similar to that occurring with total body hypoxia. We conclude that systemic (and probably brain) hypoxia is not a necessary requisite for VAH.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

O2 transport in ponies during treadmill exercise.

We assessed cardiovascular variables and blood O2 contents in order to characterize O2 transport in ponies during treadmill exercise. In normal ponies at 1.8, 3, and 6 mph, respectively, cardiac output (Qc) increased from 12 l/min at rest to maximum levels of 19.7, 28.7, and 39.9 l/min between 30 and 60 s. Qc then decreased to steady-state levels of 18.2, 24.6, and 32.7 l/min by 4 min. Heart rate (HR) showed a similar biphasic response in the 1st min of exercise. Systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure (BP) decreased at the onset of exercise by 20-25 Torr (P less than 0.05) and then increased to a steady-state by 60 s. Mean right ventricular pressures (MRVBP) increased from approximately 9.7 Torr at rest to 15.9 (1.8 mph), 15.2 (3 mph), and 23.6 Torr (6 mph) by 1 min and then decreased throughout the remainder of the 8 min of exercise (P less than 0.05). At 3 and 6 mph, respectively, arterial O2 content (CaO2) increased from 11.6 vol% at rest to 12.7 and 15.0 vol% by 45 s and 13.1 and 16.6 vol% by 7 min. At 7 min of 9.3 mph exercise, it increased to 20.34 vol%. Hemoglobin (Hb) at 3 mph increased from 9.6 g/100 ml at rest to 10.5 g/100 ml by 45 s and 11.7 g/100 ml by 7 min. At 6 mph, Hb increased to 12 g/100 ml at 45 s and 13.0 g/100 ml by 7 min of exercise. These data demonstrate that the rapid, work load-dependent increase in CaO2 represents an important mechanism to increase O2 transport in exercising ponies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗