Peritoneal transfer of carbon dioxide in the rat

In the authors' previous rat studies (Kidney Int 39: 608-617, 1991), peritoneal clearances (Cp) representing near exclusively diffusive CO2 transfer were evaluated: for isosmotic (0.37% dextrose) and hyperosmotic (15% dextrose) solutions with pH 7.2-7.3, Cp CO2 were 1.20 +/- 0.08 and 1.84 +/- 0.04 ml/min, respectively. In the present studies peritoneal transfer parameters (D/B, Cp) of CO2 gas, HCO3-, and total CO2 (tCO2) in anesthetized rats have been compared (n = 22) using solutions with dextrose contents as mentioned above but with a pH of 6.5 or 7.6; how much Cp CO2 measurements obtained with solutions at these pH values differ from Cp shown earlier with solutions of pH 7.2-7.3 has also been evaluated. When the pH was the same, transfer parameters of CO2 gas, HCO3-, and tCO2 were significantly higher under hyperosmotic conditions. The use of solutions with a pH different from 7.2-7.3 resulted in higher Cp of CO2 gas: with isosmotic solutions at pH 6.5 and 7.6, mean increases were 25 and 75%, respectively; with hyperosmotic solutions respective increases were 45 and 134%. The authors conclude that dialysis solution pH, especially under hyperosmotic conditions, significantly changes parameters of diffusive CO2 transfer in the rat. For evaluation of peritoneal blood flow from diffusive transfer parameters of CO2 gas, smaller overestimation can be expected when dialysis solution pH is slightly under than overadjusted compared to blood pH.