Influence of body temperature on nitrogen transport and decompression sickness in fish.

Incidence of lethal bends and intravascular bubbles has been studied in the eel (Anguilla anguila L.) submitted to hyperbaric air decompressions at temperatures of 17 and 27 degrees C. The fish was an accurate model to seek the nature of the inert gas transport limiting process (diffusion or perfusion) because an increase in temperature considerably influences the rate of perfusion whereas the properties of gases vary in relatively lower proportions. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the results are consistent with the hypothesis of a diffusion limited nitrogen transport through the tissues of the decompressed eel.