Effects of Anoxia on the Respiratory and Water Metabolism of Mouse Diaphragm

¹ From the Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Berkeley, California

Alterations in the in vitro respiration and water metabolism of mouse diaphragm have been investigated following various intervals of in situ anoxia. There was first an increased respiratory rate when the period of anoxia was less than 20–30 minutes. A depressed respiratory rate was noted for periods greater than 20–30 minutes. The in vitro water content of mouse diaphragm was increased by prior exposure to anoxia. This increase occurred following as short an anoxia interval as 10 minutes and reached a maximum or plateau level when the exposure interval was about 60 minutes. The evidence strongly suggests an increase in intracellular osmotic concentration following anoxia.