A simple method for measuring the respiratory uptake of carbon monoxide in unanesthetized rats: an application to rats acutely exposed to ozone.

A simple method for measuring the respiratory uptake of carbon monoxide in unanesthetized rats is described. This method is easy to operate, inexpensive, and is a sensitive means for detecting effects of short-term exposure to low concentrations of ozone. In this study, the exposure of 6- to 7-wk-old rats to 2 ppm ozone for 3 hr and 1 ppm ozone for 3-6 hr resulted in an apparent decrease in carbon monoxide uptake without significant change in the lung weight.