Solubility and partition coefficients for gases in rabbit brain and blood

Solubility and partition coefficients for argon, methane, neon, nitrogen, and sulfur hexafluoride in normal saline, rabbit blood, and exsanguinated rabbit brain were determined in a two-step process that involved equilibration of the various aliquots, and subsequent analysis by gas chromatography. Brain-blood partition coefficient was specifically higher than one for argon, neon, and sulfur hexafluoride, and questionably significant (P less than 0.025) for nitrogen.