Neuronal sensitivity to hyperoxia, hypercapnia, and inert gases at hyperbaric pressures

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) 2003-09, Vol.95 (3), p.883-909
• Main Authors: Dean, Jay B, Mulkey, Daniel K, Garcia, Alfredo J., III, Putnam, Robert W, Henderson, Richard A., III
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air Pressure; Algorithms; Anesthesia; Animals; Applied physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Central Nervous System - physiology; Central Nervous System Diseases - physiopathology; Electrophysiology; Free radicals; Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology; Humans; hyperbaric pressure; Hypercapnia - physiopathology; Hyperoxia - physiopathology; Inert Gas Narcosis; Mammals; Medical sciences; Nervous system; Neurology; Neurons - physiology; Noble Gases - pharmacology; Oxygen; Oxygen - toxicity; Research methodology; scuba diving; Toxicity; Transports. Aerospace. Diving. Altitude
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00920.2002

1 Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Environmental and Hyperbaric Cell Biology Facility, and 2 Department of Community Health, Wright State University School of Medicine, College of Science and Mathematics, Dayton, Ohio 45435 As ambient pressure increases, hydrostatic compression of the central nervous system, combined with increasing levels of inspired P O 2 , P CO 2 , and N 2 partial pressure, has deleterious effects on neuronal function, resulting in O 2 toxicity, CO 2 toxicity, N 2 narcosis, and high-pressure nervous syndrome. The cellular mechanisms responsible for each disorder have been difficult to study by using classic in vitro electrophysiological methods, due to the physical barrier imposed by the sealed pressure chamber and mechanical disturbances during tissue compression. Improved chamber designs and methods have made such experiments feasible in mammalian neurons, especially at ambient pressures