[Acute pulmonary edema induced by CO2 in rats]

High concentrations (FiCO2 0.3) of carbon dioxide in the inspired air provoke acute pulmonary oedema in the vagotomized rats only, the animals dying of acute asphyxia in a few minutes. Vagotomy accelerates the production of pulmonary transudates mainly by increasing capillary-alveolar transmural pressure: tidal volume and pleural depression are largely augmented after stimulation of the respiratory centers by CO2.