Neonatal intestinal oxygen consumption during arterial hypoxemia

D. I. Edelstone, D. R. Lattanzi, M. E. Paulone, I. R. Holzman

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21 Scopus citations

Abstract

In 12 chronicaly catheterized neonatal lambs, we determined intestinal tract blood flow (Q̇(i)) and O2 consumption (V̇O2(i) at O2 contents of arterial blood (Ca(O2)) ranging from 15.3 to 3.2 ml O2/dl blood. We measured Q̇(i) with the radioactive microsphere technique and computed intestinal O2 delivery (DO2(i), V̇O2(i) and O2 extraction (V̇O2(i)/DO2(i) using the Fick principle. In lambs breathing air, mean Q̇(i) = 214 ml.min-1.100 g intestine-1, DO2(i) = 27.0 ml O2.min-1.100 g-1, O2 extraction = 21%, and V̇O2(i) = 5.6 ml O2.min-1.100 g-1. During reductions in Ca(O2), Q̇(i) and DO2(i) decreased. Intestinal O2 extraction increased sufficiently, however, so that V̇O2(i) was maintained over the range of CaO2 from 15.3 to about 6.5 ml O2/dl blood. V̇O2(i) was independent of Q̇(i) at Q̇(i) > 160 ml.min-1.100 g-1. When CaO2 was reduced below values of 6.5 ml O2/dl blood, corresponding to Q̇(i) < 160 ml.min-1.100 g-1, V̇O2(i) fell in association with increases in the H+ concentration difference between mesenteric venous and arterial blood. These data indicate that the intestinal tract of the neonatal lamb can meet its oxygen requirements when O2 supply varies over a wide range. When O2 availability reaches a critically low level, intestinal anaerobic metabolism develops as the O2 supply to the neonatal intestinal tract becomes inadequate for the O2 demand.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)G278-G283
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology
Volume7
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1983
Externally publishedYes

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