Blood acid-base balance as a function of water oxygenation: a study at two different ambient CO2 levels in the dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula.

In the unanesthetized dogfish, Scyliorhinus canicula, oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressures and concentrations in inspired and expired water and the acid-base balance of arterial blood, pHa and PcCO2, were determined. Each dogfish was exposed to waters differing in oxygenation and in CO2 levels, which was controlled with a pH-CO2-stat device, for successive 2- to 3-h periods. The four ambient conditions were: normoxia-normocapnia (inspired PO2, PIO2 ca 160 Torr; PICO2 ca 0.3 Torr), hyperoxia-normocapnia (PIO2 ca 730 Torr), hyperoxia-hypercapnia (PICO2 ca 1.0 Torr); normoxia-hypercapnia. At both low and high ambient CO2, the inspired-expired O2 and CO2 concentration differences increased in hyperoxia. Ventilation was depressed, and concomitantly, PACO2 increased and the arterial plasma pH decreased. The hypercapnic acidosis was rapidly but only partially compensated by an increase of the plasma bicarbonate concentration. Due to the buffer action of carbonate in sea water, low and high ambient CO2 levels corresponded respectively to high and low values of the CO2 capacitance coefficient, betaWCO2. At both ambient oxygenation levels, the expired-inspired PCO2 difference was greater at low than at high betaWCO2. At a given ambient CO2 level, expired PCO2, PECO2, wash higher in hyperoxia than in normoxia; an effect more marked at low than at high betaWCO2. Thus, the water capacitance coeffcient betaWCO2 is an important factor determining PECO2 values and probably arterial blood acid-base balance. As a general conclusion, the acid-base balance of the arterial blood in the dogfish is very much dependent on the conditions of the oxygenation and acid-base balance of the ambient water which consequently should be carefully controlled.