Estimate of mean tissue O2 consumption at onset of exercise in males

A mathematical model has been developed that permitted the calculation of the flow-weighted mean tissue O2 consumption (VO2T) at the onset of a step increase in work rate. From breath-by-breath measurements of alveolar O2 consumption (VO2A) and cardiac output (Q) by impedance cardiography and assumptions about the site of depletion of O2 stores, the rate of change in O2 stores (VO2s) was determined. The sum of VO2A + VO2s = VO2T. Six very fit males performed six repetitions of each of two step increases in work rate. STlo was a transition from rest to 100-W cycling; SThi was a transition from 100- to 200-W cycling. For each work rate transition, the responses of VO2A and Q were averaged over the six repetitions of each subject and the model was solved to yield VO2T. The responses of VO2A, VO2T, and Q after the increase in work rate were fit with a monoexponential function. This function included a time constant and time delay, the sum of which gave the mean response time (MRT). In the STlo test, the MRT of VO2A (24.9 +/- 1.1 s, mean +/- SE) was longer than that of VO2T (15.3 +/- 1.3 s) and of Q (16.5 +/- 6.5 s) (P less than 0.05). The MRT of VO2T and Q did not differ significantly. Also for SThi, the MRT of VO2A (34.4 +/- 3.3 s) was significantly longer than that of VO2T (30.0 +/- 3.4 s) (P less than 0.05). The MRT of VO2T and Q (30.3 +/- 5.5 s) were not significantly different at this work rate either.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The growth response of cells in medium made hyperosmolal with electrolytes or mannitol.

A comparison of the growth rates of established human lymphoid and tumor cell lines was performed in nutrient medium made hyperosmolal with mannitol, NaCl, or mixtures of NaCl and KCl at a constant Na/K ratio. It was found that considerably higher osmolalities were attained with mannitol than electrolytes before a reduction in the growth rate of the culture was observed. This suggests that mannitol and electrolytes affected the growth rate through different mechanisms. Mannitol uptake was studied with two of the cell lines and both cell lines were found to be permeable to mannitol. This eventually would have eliminated the osmolality gradient between the interior of the cell and the medium, and could explain why higher osmolalities were obtained with mannitol before the growth rate was effected. In addition, initial experiments showed that these cell lines may also be able to metabolize mannitol.     

Importance of oscillations in alveolar gas concentrations in the analysis of rebreathing data

Cyclic rebreathing of a soluble inert gas can be used to estimate lung tissue volume (Vt) and pulmonary blood flow (Qc). A recently proposed method for analyzing such cyclic data (Respir. Physiol. 48: 255-279, 1982) mathematically assumes that ventilation is a continuous process. However, neglecting the cyclic nature of ventilation may prevent the accurate estimation of Vt and Qc. We evaluated this possibility by simulating the uptake of soluble inert gases during rebreathing using a cyclic model of gas exchange. Under cyclic uptake conditions alveolar gases follow an oscillating time course, because gas concentrations tend to increase during inspiration and to decrease during expiration. We found that neglecting these alveolar gas oscillations leads to the underestimation of soluble gas uptake by blood, particularly during the early rebreathing breaths. When continuous ventilation is assumed Vt and Qc are overestimated unless rapid rebreathing rates, large tidal volumes, and gases of moderately low solubility are used. Under these conditions the amplitude of the cyclic oscillations is minimized, the alveolar time course more closely resembles that expected from continuous ventilation, and the resulting errors are minimized. Alternatively, when the effect of oscillating alveolar gas concentrations on mass transfer are considered, these estimation errors can be eliminated without restricting rebreathing rate or gas solubility. We conclude that failure to consider the effect of cyclic rebreathing on the time course of alveolar gas concentrations may result in significant errors when evaluating rebreathing data for Vt and Qc.