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.