Blood acid-base status, whole blood and whole body buffer values in sand rats (Psammomys obesus) exposed to hypercapnia

Arterial blood acid-base status of unanesthetized sand rats (Psammomys obesus) were studied under normocapnic and hypercapnic conditions, and compared to those obtained for the albino rat (Rattus norvegicus). The average control blood pH: 7.396 +/- 0.034; PaCO2: 30.5 +/- 2.9 mmHg; HCO-3: 18.8 +/- 2.5 mM/l; and HCO-3 std: 20.9 +/- 2.1 (N = 15) obtained here for the sand rat are in the lower range of values found in other mammals and indicate a status of partially compensated metabolic acidosis. The blood buffer values of the sand rat, delta log PCO2/delta pH = -2.32 +/- 0.35 (N = 25) are significantly higher than those found here for the rat, delta log PCO2/delta pH = -1.51 +/- 0.10 (N = 39), and those reported for other mammals. This high blood buffer value may be related to the natural high mineral diet of the sand rat. The in vivo (whole body) buffer value delta log PaCO2/delta pH = -1.41 and -1.65 for the sand rat and the rat found here are higher than those reported for the man and dog and may represent a physiological adaptation to the hypercapnic conditions prevailing in underground burrows.