Modeling of alveolar carbon dioxide oscillations with or without exercise

In five persons the transient ventilatory response was measured to three step levels of exercise, inhaled constant fraction of CO2, and inhaled constant flux of CO2. With constant CO2 fraction inhalation (3, 5, and 7%), the transient response of the minute-ventilation (VE) is associated with on- and off-time delays (Td). Our Td periods include equipment delay, and our bolus inhalations by constant flux provoke on- and off-Td's of 6-8 s, which approximate to the transport delay of blood passing from the alveoli to the peripheral chemosensitive areas. With exercise (30, 50, and 70 W) we found a fast rise in VE (i.e., mainly in respiratory frequency) within the first breath, but no detectable on- and off-Td. The ventilatory responses to exercise are equal to those of constant CO2 flux inhalation. We modeled PACO2 oscillations, which occur through a respiratory cycle, and show that the oscillations provoked by constant CO2 flux have modified timing, amplitude, and slope compared with those of constant CO2 fraction. The increase in ventilation is the same when the CO2 is achieved by constant flux inhalation at rest or by exercise.