Respiration functions through a complex network of neural controls and feedback mechanisms as the body constantly adjusts its breathing rate and tidal volume to meet respiratory metabolic demands. Varying concentrations of common atmospheric gases to introduce challenges, such as hypoxia or hypercapnia, significantly impacts the body’s ability to regulate oxygenation and gas transfer. In a diseased state, these changes lead to erratic breathing, apneas and potential long-term effects.
The delivery of controlled gas has many uses in preclinical research: from acute challenges to chronic exposure for an animal model.
The whole body plethysmography chamber allows for the automated exposure to gas challenges, along with the continuous recording of the subjects ventilatory parameters. During acute exposures, IOX software can control the mixing and delivery of controlled gases with Mass Flow Controllers (MFC). The MFCs can be automated in protocols to vary severity and duration of challenges and returns to normoxia. These challenges can lead to erratic breathing and apneic events, which are recorded and quantified in real time.
In addition to breathing pattern information, plethysmography can be extended with high-fidelity EEG/EMG signals, optogenetics triggering and blood oxygen sensors, which yield further insights into a subject’s ventilatory control during gas challenges.
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