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Lactate as a modulator of hypoxia-induced hyperventilation
Luciane H Gargaglioni1, Kenia C Bicego, Alexandre A Steiner
1Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Avenida do Café s/no, Departamento de Morfologia, Estomatologia e Fisiologia, Universidade de São Paulo, 14040-904 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. lucihel@rfi.fmrp.usp.br
Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology
|October 2, 2003
Summary
Lactate plays a key role in hypoxia-induced hyperventilation in rats. Inhibiting lactate production with dichloroacetate (DCA) significantly reduced the breathing response to low oxygen, highlighting lactate's modulatory function.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Hypoxia, a state of low oxygen, triggers physiological responses in mammals, including increased ventilation (hyperventilation).
- Lactate is a known byproduct of cellular metabolism under hypoxic stress.
- The precise role of lactate in modulating the hyperventilatory response to hypoxia remains to be fully elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that lactate modulates hypoxia-induced hyperventilation.
- To determine if inhibiting lactate production affects the ventilatory response to hypoxia.
Main Methods:
- Male Wistar rats were used to measure pulmonary ventilation (V(E)) via whole-body plethysmography.
- Dichloroacetate (DCA), a lactate production inhibitor, was administered intraperitoneally.
- Physiological parameters including plasma lactate, arterial blood gases (pHa, PaCO(2), PaO(2)), bicarbonate, and oxygen consumption (VO(2)) were measured.
Main Results:
- DCA administration in normoxia decreased plasma lactate levels without affecting ventilation.
- Hypoxia increased V(E), pHa, and plasma lactate, while decreasing PaCO(2), PaO(2), and VO(2) in control rats.
- DCA significantly attenuated the hypoxic ventilatory response, primarily by reducing tidal volume (V(T)), independent of changes in VO(2).
Conclusions:
- Lactate contributes to both the initiation and maintenance of hyperventilation during hypoxic conditions in rats.
- Lactate influences hypoxia-induced hyperventilation by modulating adjustments in tidal volume (V(T)).