Cardiorespiratory and thermal responses to hypercapnia in chickens exposed to CO 2 during embryonic development

• Published in: Respiratory physiology & neurobiology 2020-02, Vol.273, p.103317
• Main Authors: Rocha, Aline C G, Espinha, L Ívia P, Santos, Kassia M, Almeida, Ayla R, Macari, Marcos, Bícego, Kênia C, Gargaglioni, Luciane H, da Silva, Glauber S F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Arterial Pressure - physiology; Body Temperature - physiology; Carbon Dioxide - administration & dosage; Chick Embryo; Chickens; Embryonic Development; Female; Heart Rate - physiology; Hypercapnia - physiopathology; Male; Pulmonary Ventilation - physiology; Sex Factors; Time Factors
• ISSN: 1878-1519
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2019.103317

The concentration of CO in the environment surrounding the embryo impacts development and may also influence the cardiorespiratory responses after hatching. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the cardiorespiratory and thermal responses to hypercapnia in chicks that were exposed to CO during embryonic development, i.e., incubation. Embryos were incubated without and with a gradual increase in CO concentration up to 1 % during the first ten days of incubation. Ten-day-old chicks (males and females) were again acutely exposed to hypercapnia (7 % CO ), or to room air (normocapnia) and pulmonary ventilation, arterial pH and blood gases, arterial blood pressure and heart rate, body temperature (Tb) and oxygen consumption (V⋅O ) were measured. Compared to control animals, male chicks incubated with 1 % CO presented an attenuated ventilatory response to hypercapnia (P