Regional alveolar gas composition and lung function in sheep.

The influence of regional alveolar oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions on the distribution of lung blood flow and gas exchange was studied in unanaesthetised sheep. Right apical lobe (RAL) hypoxia, induced by administering nitrogen or nitrogen/oxygen mixtures to the lobe, stimulated a prompt, graded and well sustained reduction in lobar blood flow. Maximum hypoxia was accompanied by an approximate 65% reduction in perfusion, a significant fall in RAL carbon dioxide tension and output, a reversal of lobar oxygen flux and an average 13 Torr fall in arterial oxygen tension. The reduction in perfusion and gas exchange persisted in the face of elevated systemic oxygen tensions produced by giving pure oxygen instead of air to the remainder of the lung (RL). Mild RAL hypercapnia potentiated the hypoxia-induced change in perfusion and gas exchange. During lobar hypoxia RL blood flow and gas exchange increased to maintain total pulmonary gas exchange at an essentially constant level. RAL hyperoxia did not significantly alter the distribution of perfusion or gas exchange.