Oxygen usage of the cat carotid body perfused with cell-free solutions

Carotid bodies of cats were perfused with saline solutions and their oxygen usages ([Formula: see text]) calculated using the Fick equation. In the initial stages of perfusion, the values of[Formula: see text] were similar to those reported for blood perfused carotid bodies. As perfusion continued, carotid body[Formula: see text] decreased sharply and these decreases were not prevented by adding plasma to the perfusates. Blood perfusion in the interval between cell-free perfusion periods stimulated[Formula: see text]. It is concluded that the process of cell-free perfusion is unable to maintain the high levels of oxidative metabolism associated with blood perfused carotid bodies.