WINDSOR UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

1. WINDSOR UNIVERSITYSCHOOL OF MEDICINE CO 2 Transport and Control of Respiration. Dr.Vishal Surender.MD.

2. CO2 Transport • • Carbon dioxide transport: • • Carbon dioxide is produced by cells throughout the body. • • It diffuses out of the cells and into the systemic capillaries, where approximately 7% is transported dissolved in plasma. • • The remaining carbon dioxide diffuses into the red blood cells. Within the red blood cells, approximately 23% chemically combines with hemoglobin, and 70% is converted to bicarbonate ions, which are then transported in the plasma. 7% dissolved in plasma 93% diffuses in to RBC capillary 23% combines with hemoglobin 70% is converted to bicarbonate ions Tissue cells

3. CO2 + Hb CO2 + Hb HbCO2 HbCO2 CO2 Transport: Carbaminohemoglobin (Tissues) • Of the total carbon dioxide in the blood, 23% binds to the globin portion of the hemoglobin molecule to form carbaminohemoglobin, as written in this equation: high PCO2 (carbaminohemoglobin) • Carbaminohemoglobin forms in regions of high PCO2, as blood flows through the systemic capillaries in the tissues. • CO2 Transport: Carbaminohemoglobin (Lungs) • • The formation of carbaminohemoglobin is reversible. • In the lungs, which have a lower PCO2, carbon dioxide dissociates from carbaminohemoglobin, diffuses into the alveoli, and is exhaled. low PCO2

4. CO2 + H2 0 H2 CO3 CO2 Transport: Bicarbonate Ions (Tissues) Of the total carbon dioxide in the blood, 70% is converted into bicarbonate ions within the red blood cells, in a sequence of reversible reactions. The bicarbonate ions then enter the plasma In regions with high PCO2, carbon dioxide enters the red blood cell and combines with water to form carbonic acid. H+ + HCO-3 This reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme carbonic anhydrase. carbonic anhydrase H2 0 H2 CO3 CO2 H+ HCO-3 Carbonic acid dissociates into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions. The hydrogen ions produced in this reaction are buffered by binding to hemoglobin. This is written as HHb. HCO-3 carbonic anhydrase H+ Cl- HHb capillary In order to maintain electrical neutrality, bicarbonate ions diffuse out of the red blood cell and chloride ions diffuse in. This is called the chloride shift. Within the plasma, bicarbonate ions act as a buffer and play an important role in blood pH control. Tissue cells

5. CO2 Transport: Bicarbonate Ions (Lungs) In the lungs, carbon dioxide diffuses out of the plasma and into the alveoli. This lowers the PCO2 in the blood, causing the chemical reactions to reverse and proceed to the left. In the lungs, the bicarbonate ions diffuse back into the red blood cell, and the chloride ions diffuse out of the red blood cell. Recall that this is called the chloride shift. The hydrogen ions are released from hemoglobin, and combine with the bicarbonate ion to form carbonic acid. HCO-3 HCO-3 Cl- CO2 H2 0 Carbonic acid breaks down into carbon dioxide and water. This reverse reaction is also catalyzed by the enzyme carbonic anhydrase carbonic anhydrase H+ HHb carbonic anhydrase CO2 H2 0 H2 CO3 HCO-3 H+

6. • When hemoglobin is saturated with oxygen, its affinity for carbon dioxide decreases Summary: O2 Loading and CO2 Unloading in the Lungs oxygen loading facilitates carbon dioxide unloading from hemoglobin. This interaction is called the Haldane effect.

7. Summary: O2 Unloading and CO2 Loading in the Tissues The interaction between hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen and its affinity for hydrogen ions is called the Bohr effect. By forming hydrogen ions, carbon dioxide loading facilitates oxygen unloading. (6) (3) (4) (5) (2) (9) (8) (7) (1) (10)

8. Control of Respiration • The basic rhythm of breathing is controlled by respiratory centers located in the brainstem. • This rhythm is modified in response to input from sensory receptors and from other regions of the brain. Goals • To understand how the respiratory centers control breathing to maintain homeostasis. • To examine how PCO2, pH, PO2, and other factors affect ventilation. • To understand the relationship between breathing and blood pH. • To explore the factors which stimulate increased ventilation during exercise.

9. Homeostasis and the Control of Respiration • control of respiration is tied to the principle of homeostasis. Arterial PCO2, PO2 and pH • Recall Body maintains homeostasis through homeostatic control mechanisms, which have three basic components: receptors chemoreceptors. • The principal factors which control respiration are chemical factors in the blood control centers Respiratory centre. Respiratory muscles. effectors Ventilation

10. Inspiratory Neurons The basic rhythm of breathing is controlled by respiratory centers located in the medulla and pons of the brainstem. pons ventral respiratory group Within the medulla, a group of neurons in the ventral respiratory group sets the basic rhythm by automatically initiating inspiration medulla inspiratory neurons inspiratory neurons stop (3 secs) (2 seconds) Diaphragm , external intercostal muscles relax Diaphragm , external intercostal muscles • The automatic rhythm generated by these two groups of neurons alternately inhibiting each other produces the normal resting breathing rate, ranging between 12 and 15 breaths per minute inspiratory neurons Phrenic nerve inspiration. expiration intercostal nerves