Abstract
Summary
The direct effects of carbon monoxide and nitrogen-induced anoxia on the isolated isometrically-contracting right ventricle of the rat were assessed and compared. Both gas stresses caused a decrease in developed tension, an increase in resting tension and a reduction in percent recovery when the preparations were reoxygenated. There was no significant difference in the decline in developed tension or the increase in resting tension between the two groups. Recovery after 10 min of reoxygenation was significantly greater in the CO-stressed muscles. Recovery from either anoxia was severely depressed when CO was present during the recovery phase.
Tissue sodium levels were elevated while potassium levels were depressed by both stresses.
These results indicate that CO may have a direct effect on the heart in addition to its well known hemoglobin mediated effect.
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