Effects of temperature on acid-base balance and ventilation in desert iguanas

The effects of constant and changing temperatures on blood acid-base status and pulmonary ventilation were studied in the eurythermal lizard Dipsosaurus dorsalis. Constant temperatures between 18 and 42 degrees C maintained for 24 h or more produced arterial pH changes of -0.0145 U X degrees C-1. Arterial CO2 tension (PCO2) increased from 9.9 to 32 Torr plasma [HCO-3] and total CO2 contents remained constant at near 19 and 22 mM, respectively. Under constant temperature conditions, ventilation-gas exchange ratios (VE/MCO2 and VE/MO2) were inversely related to temperature and can adequately explain the changes in arterial PCO2 and pH. During warming and cooling between 25 and 42 degrees C arterial pH, PCO2 [HCO-3], and respiratory exchange ratios (MCO2/MO2) were similar to steady-state values. Warming and cooling each took about 2 h. During the temperature changes, rapid changes in lung ventilation following steady-state patterns were seen. Blood relative alkalinity changed slightly with steady-state or changing body temperatures, whereas calculated charge on protein histidine imidazole was closely conserved. Cooling to 17-18 degrees C resulted in a transient respiratory acidosis correlated with a decline in the ratio VE/MCO2. After 12-24 h at 17-18 degrees C, pH, PCO2, and VE returned to steady-state values. The importance of thermal history of patterns of acid-base regulation in reptiles is discussed.