Respiratory Quotient of the Brain.

Abstract

We have studied the respiratory quotient of the brain of dogs by analysis of the blood entering and leaving that organ. Under amytal anesthesia, except for one animal, the superior longitudinal sinus of large female dogs was exposed and a sample of venous blood was drawn from it simultaneously with one of arterial blood from the femoral artery. The blood samples were analyzed for carbon dioxide and oxygen by the method of Van Slyke and Neill. The respiratory quotient of the intact animal was determined on samples of expired air collected before the blood was drawn.

In Table I are presented typical observations of a group which are summarized in Table II. 38 observations of the brain were made in 14 dogs and the average of the respiratory quotient was 1.00.