Alveolar-capillary diffusion of oxygen in dogs exercising in hypoxia

To detect and quantify diffusion limitation in alveolar-capillary O2 transfer, measurements of pulmonary gas exchange were performed in 6 awake, chronically tracheostomized dogs (mean body weight 28.3 kg) breathing low O2 (arterial PO2 35-39 Torr), with or without CO2 added to inspired gas. From rest to exercise, with O2 uptake averaging 23 ml/(min X kg), the ideal-alveolar-to-arterial PO2 difference (PAiO2-PaO2) increased from 2.1 +/- 0.2 Torr (mean +/- SE) to 2.9 +/- 0.2 in hypoxia, and from 1.9 +/- 0.7 Torr to 3.0 +/- 0.5 in hypercapnic hypoxia. The apparent pulmonary O2 diffusing capacity (DLO2), calculated from O2 uptake, mixed-venous PO2, arterial PO2, and ideal-alveolar PO2, was found to be increased by hypercapnia and exercise. During exercise DLO2 averaged 74 ml/(min X Torr) in hypoxia and 76 ml/(min X Torr) in hypercapnic hypoxia. Because of the influence of inhomogeneity effects, these values should be considered as minimum values for the true pulmonary O2 diffusing capacity. When compared to the pulmonary CO diffusing capacity (DLCO) previously determined by C18O rebreathing in the same dogs in similar conditions, the DLO2/DLCO ratio averaged 1.2, thus being in accordance with the value predicted from the corresponding Krogh diffusion constant ratio. It is concluded that the DLO2 and DLCO values determined drug exercise in hypoxia may be considered to represent acceptable measures for alveolar-capillary diffusion conductance of lungs.