Gas exchange in air sacs: contribution to respiratory gas exchange in ducks

Air sac gas exchange was studied in ducks by measuring the rates of inert gas uptake and of O2 and CO2 equilibration in caudal thoracic air sac whose ventilation was prevented by surgival sealing of the ostia. The data were analyzed on a model incorporating three possible routes by which air sac gas could be exchanged with the surrounding tissue: (1) into the blood perfusing the air sac walls; (2) into the adjoining air sac via tissue membranes; (3) into the bronchial system of the lung via diffusion through lung tissue bordering upon the caudal thoracic air sac. Exchange rates of gases via the two latter paths were found to be small as compared with the first route. From application of model parameters to O2 and CO2 exchange in air sacs under physiological conditions the following conclusions were drawn: (1) the caudal thoracic air sac makes the major contribution to total gas exchange between air sacs and blood; (2) this exchange can account for less than 5% of total respiratory gas exchange; (3) the exchange is too small to account for the O2 and CO2 partial pressures in caudal thoracic air sacs of ducks. Other mechanisms like gas exchange in neopulmonic parabronchi, which conduct air to the caudal air sacs during inspiration or re-inspiration of dead space appear to play a more significant role in the deviation of O2 and CO2 partial pressures in the caudal air sacs from those in inspired air.