Arterial blood acid-base regulation during exercise in rats.

For the first time in the rat, we described the effects of exercise on arterial acid-base status and examined the role of chemical stimuli as determinants of the hyperventilatory response in this species. O2 consumption (VO2), CO2 production (VCO2), arterial blood gases, arterial lactate concentration ([LA-]a), and rectal temperature (Tre) were measured in non-trained male rats at rest and during 10 min of treadmill exercise at various intensities. During mild exercise (2.5-fold increase in VCO2), PaCO2 fell 5.5 +/- 0.6 Torr, and despite a small but significant increase in [LA-]a, respiratory alkalosis prevailed [change in arterial pH (delta pHa) = 0.034 +/- 0.006]. Arterial PO2 (PaO2) increased 4.1 +/- 1.5 Torr and Tre increased 0.6 +/- 0.1 degrees C. A progressive hyperventilation occurred from mild to heavy exercise. This response was not attributable to arterial hypoxemia or acidosis and it was not affected by preventing the exercise-induced increase in body temperature. During maximal exercise, VO2 increased 3.4-fold (72 +/- 1.50 ml X kg-1 X min-1) and VCO2 increased 4.5-fold (74 +/- 1.90 ml X kg-1 X min-1), resulting in a 9-fold increase in [LA-]a and a severe metabolic acidosis (pHa 7.31 +/- 0.02). A marked hyperventilation [arterial PCO2 (PaCO2) 28.5 +/- 1.4 Torr] resulted in partial compensation of pHa, but almost all of this hyperventilation occurred before the onset of metabolic acidosis, [i.e., at less than 65% maximum VO2 (VO2max)], and the increased [H+]a with further elevations in VO2 produced no further hypocapnia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)