Effect of posture change on control of ventilation

To clarify the control mechanism of ventilation during posture change, ventilatory parameters, PETCO2, and ventilatory response to CO2 were examined in 11 healthy male subjects at supine (0 degrees) and 75 degrees head-up tilt positions. Minute expiratory ventilation (V.E), tidal volume (VT), respiratory frequency (f), end-tidal and transcutaneous PCO2 and CO2 output (V.CO2), and ventilatory response to CO2 were measured during a steady state condition. V.E (V.A) and VT increased significantly at 75 degrees tilt with significant decrease in PETCO2 from 40.1 mmHg (0 degrees) to about 36.1 mmHg (75 degrees). Transcutaneous PCO2 also decreased during tilt, by 3.3 mmHg. Physiological dead space (VD/VT) and V.CO2, however, remained unchanged, and ventilatory equivalent (V.E/V.CO2, V.A/V.CO2) increased significantly. The CO2-ventilatory response curve shifted upward (or leftward) without significant change in the response slope. At 75 degrees tilt, EMG activity of gastro-cnemius muscle increased. These findings suggested that PETCO2 decreased because of increased V.E (V.A) with a leftward shift of CO2-ventilatory response curve. Various signals such as afferents from lower extremities might have net stimulatory effects on a CO2-ventilation control system to reset the controlled level of PETCO2 to a lower range, but without significant change in CO2-ventilatory response during upright position.