The respiratory response of the new-born lamb to inhaled CO-2 with and without accompanying hypoxia.

1. The respiratory response to inhaled CO(2) was measured in twenty unanaesthetized new-born lambs aged 4 hr-10 days. Measurement of resting arterial pH, P(CO2) and plasma bicarbonate showed a non-respiratory acidosis immediately after birth which was corrected in the first 24-28 hr: thereafter, the acid-base pattern was of a compensated respiratory alkalosis.2. When CO(2) was added to the inspired gases and resting arterial oxygen tension (P(a), (O2)) was controlled, the average increase in minute ventilation (V) was 0.075 l.min(-1).kg(-1).mm Hg, P(a), (CO2) (-1) and duplicate responses in the same lamb differed by 6-22.5%.3. The slope of the V/P(a), (CO2) line (S) varied inversely with P(a), (O2). In one lamb, severe hypoxia (P(a), (O2) = 21 mm Hg) caused a marked depression of the slope.4. Neither the slope S nor the horizontal intercept B of the lines was related to the age of the lamb. B was not related to pH(a) and only slightly affected by acute hypoxia. B was related to arterial [HCO(3) (-)] and values for both were reduced with the acid-base disturbances seen in the first 10 days after birth. Evidence was given which suggested that the response of the new-born lamb to inhaled CO(2) was similar to that of man acclimatized to a P(a), (O2) of 70-75 mm Hg.5. In the lightly anaesthetized lamb, bilateral section of the sinus nerves caused a small reduction in the sensitivity to inhaled 5% CO(2) in air, an increase in the respiratory lag and a reduction in the rate at which V increased.6. It was concluded that, in the new-born lamb, the carotid chemo-receptors are involved in the response to inhaled CO(2) and that hypoxia potentiates this response.