Abstract
Glazer and Winkler 1 , 2 have shown that the administration of low percentages of oxygen in nitrogen under normal conditions of respiration caused an associated increase in reflex response and respiratory movements. The augmented reflex response might be due to the blowing off of carbon dioxide by the augmented respiration. To investigate this possibility a group of 6 experiments were done in which low percentages of oxygen (4% to 7%) in nitrogen were administered under conditions of constant ventilation as well as normal variable ventilation.
It was found that low alveolar oxygen during constant pulmonary ventilation augmented the reflex response of the anterior tibialis muscle similar to that during normally augmented ventilation.
To determine the site of action of low oxygen pressure, both anterior tibialis muscles were isolated and stimulated, one reflexly as above and the other through its severed motor nerve. In the 4 experiments that were done it was found that the response to the direct stimulation of the motor nerve was the same as the reflex response. Whether the change in reflex response is due entirely to the action of low oxygen pressure on the motor end of the reflex are remains to be determined.
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