Alveolar distribution of argon, previously inhaled fast, at 7 atmospheres absolute (ATA). Julio C. Cruz.

Universidad Nacional de Piura, Peru & Ohio State University, Ohio, USA.

Program # 1109.1 Poster Board # A343 April 13, 2011

Abstract #496
The model that explained the argon (Ar) expirogram at 1 ATA (Respir. Physiol. 86:1-14, 1991) was improved by introducing the variable time. Thus, expirograms of Ar after 5-20s of apnea (FASEB J. 20:A1258, 2006) were also explained (Figure 1, left side). Now, experiments conducted at 7 ATA are presented. The same subject was studied at 1 and 7 ATA (FRC=4L, RV=1.4L, TLC=7.9L). He inhaled 1.9L of 79% Ar and 21% O2. The mass spectrometer remained at 1 ATA. The inspiration was performed from FRC fast (2s) and the expiratory maneuver (3s) reached RV. The results are shown in Figure 1, right side, the filled symbols are experimental data at 7ATA (Cruz, Lanphier and Farhi. IUPS 1968) and the open symbols at 1 ATA (Cruz, 1991); the curves were obtained with the model (5s breath holding was omitted for clarity). The alveolar distribution of Ar is different: 238 ml of Ar reached RV at 0s, 7 ATA as compared to 70ml at 1 ATA. As a consequence, Ar rises at 7 ATA instead of falling at 1 ATA. The dead space volumes required to fit the data were 425ml, 340ml, 280ml and 158ml for 0s, 5s, 10s and 20s, respectively, for 1 ATA; and 425ml, 313ml, 187ml and 138ml for 7 ATA. In conclusion, at 7 ATA, the model showed better argon mixing; and argon expirograms seen at 5s, 10s and 20s reflected the argon movement from trachea to ERV, dropping at 20s, which was manifested by 69ml of argon moving to RV. Supported in part by Centro de Enseanza, Investigacin y Servicios (CEIS).

Cruz 2 was able to explain the expired Ar with his model (Fig.2). He estimated that 141 ml of Ar was left a RV at the end of the respiratory maneuver (9.4% of the amount inhaled: 1.5L).
Fig.2. Experimental exhaled argon fractions (symbols) as a function of expired volume. Fast inspirataroy and expiratory maneuver. The curve was generated with his model 2. Experimental data of Sikand et al 1 are also shown.

Comments
Back to the year 1968, a two-compartment system was offered to explain the data at 7 ATA. The model of Sikand et al. 1 was not able to explain the rising experimental data with breath holding. It was not until 1991 2 that I got a combined model: apex-to-base gas concentration differences and simultaneously, the trachea-to-alveoli gas concentration differences, to explain the Ar expirogram obtained with a fast respiratory maneuver at 1 ATA. The N2 exhaled was not included since the alveolar gas mixing of N2 is not the same as the inhaled gas. Later, my model was improved 5 by solving the convection-diffusion equation in each of the 7-parallel regions. Here, we learned that Jeng et al. 5 model could no explain the apnea experiments. Thus, I went back to my original model where we introduced the time variable to the equation that described the gas stratification from trachea-to-alveoli. As a consequence, we could model the complete data at 1 ATA, and now, applying the model to data at 7 ATA, I show the explanation of Fig.3, right side, as a continuous argon movement from trachea to alveoli, as it was described at 1 ATA.

Cruz et al 3 introduced the time variable in his previous model 2 and they were able to study the expired curves after 5-20s of inspiratory apneas. Fig.3, left side.

Conclusion
Argon reaches RV during inspiration by a mechanism of convectiondiffusion. During apneas, argon moves from trachea to ERV (5-10s) by a mechanism of diffusion. A further movement of argon (20s) takes place from ERV to RV.

References
Fig.3. Exhaled argon fractions at 1 ATA (open symbols) and 7 ATA (closed symbols) as a function of expired volume. The curves were generated with Cruz et al. model 3.

1. 2. 3.

Introduction
Sikand et al. 1 and Cruz 2 published data on the expired Ar/N2 measured at 1 ATA (Fig.1). The first 750 ml of the expired gas was not collected. Thus, they could not determine the amount of Ar that was present in the alveoli at the end of the test. Fig.1. Ar/N2 relationship as a function of expired volume (2.5L for Sikands et al data and 4.5L for Cruz data). Data of apnea experiments at 5s was omitted for clarity. The higher values at 20s than at 10s was clearly explained by the model of Sikand et al 1 . There was not explanation for for the difference in Ar/N2 ratio between the values at 0.75L and 2.5L or 4.5L.

Sikand, R., P. Cerretelli, and L.E. Farhi. Effects of VA and VA/Q distribution and of time on the alveolar plateau. J. Appl. Physiol. 21:1331, 1966. Cruz, J.C. A combined parallel and series distribution model of inspired inert gases. Respir. Physiol. 86:1, 1991. Cruz, J.C., L.J. Caucha, and L.A. Rueda. The gas inhaled during inspiration does not reach the residual volume in the first 2s of the inspiratory maneuver. Experimental Biology 2006. Abstract1677. San Francisco, CA. April 2006. Cruz, J.C., E.H Lanphier, and L.E. Farhi. Distribution of ventilation at 7 atmospheres. XXIV Congress of Physiological Sciences, Washington, 1968. Proc. Intern. Union Physiol. Sci. 7:79, 1968. Jeng, D-R., G. Wu, J.C. Cruz, D. Han, and X.F. Flores. Diffusion-convection equation solved in parallel regions of the lung. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 28:453-462, 2000.

Now, Im presenting experiments done in 1965 4. These data are shown in Fig.3, right side.

Methods
Five subjects were studied in a hyperbaric chamber at 7 ATA. The subject presented was studied at 1 and 7 ATA. He inhaled fast 1.9L of 79% Ar and 21% O2 from his FRC (4L) and exhaled also fast all the way to RV (1.4L) after holding the breath in inspiration for 0-20s. Inhaled and exhaled gases were measured with a mass spectrometer located outside the chamber. Expired gas was measured with a wedge spirometer. Electrical signals: gas partial pressures of Ar and N2, as well as flow and volume were recorded.

4.

Results
Experimental data (symbols) and model curves (continuous lines) are shown in Fig.3.

5.