Measurement of hormones and blood gases ' during hypoxia in conscious cannulated rats

摘要: Simple inexpensive methods are described for implanting chronic arterial cannulas remote stress-free blood sampling of conscious unrestrained rats and delivering acute isocapnic hypoxia to these in their home cages. The day before experimentation cages were placed plastic bags with air (21% O2) flowing through at 15 1/min (normoxia). next morning either normoxia was continued or (arterial PO2 38 Torr, PCO2 Torr) administered without handling disturbing the rats. Repeated samples collected measurement gases, hematocrit, corticosterone, ACTH. Blood pressure increased transiently (by 10 mmHg min) plasma corticosterone ACTH levels fivefold; hematocrit heart rate did not change significantly. In receiving normoxia, all variables remained low. This preparation is useful studying regulation endocrine systems easily stimulated by cardiovascular adaptations environmental stimuli such as hypoxia.