Effect of metabolic versus respiratory acid-base changes on isolated coronary artery and saphenous vein

Experiments were performed on helically cut strips from coronary artery and saphenous vein to determine the relative influence of metabolic versus respiratory acid-base changes. Tensions were measured over a range of various HCO3- concentrations and pCO2's. The results suggest that tension is influenced by extracellular pH and is independent of pCO2.