Abstract
Summary
Thirty rats were tested for time of useful consciousness (TUC) by recording the time they could cling to a steeply sloping surface after decompression to a barometric pressure corresponding to 30,000 ft altitude (226 torr). After testing, the rats were returned to ground level conditions for 1 month. They were then exposed continuously for 3-4 days to an environment containing a partial pressure of 90 torr CO2 and tested for TUC again immediately after removal from the high CO2. TUC decreased from 17.6 min to 4.8 min (p<.01) after adaptation to hypercapnia. These data support present theories concerning the role of CO2 in the regulation of respiration.
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