Slide 1
Goals for the next few weeks...
Respiratory physiology
gasex basics 2/15
gasex extreme 2/17
Temperature and metabolism
vertebrate metabolism/temp. regulation 2/22
supercooling/freeze tolerance in phibs 2/24
guest lecture by Mr. Mark Mandica
Environmental Endocrinology
Hormones and feedback 3/1
Stress response 3/3
Endocrine disruptors 3/8

Midterm Exam 3/10
4 essay questions
2 from January to now
2 from 2/15-3/8

Today's Lecture
Gas exchange overview
Gases:  Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide
Energy conversion
Importance of blood pH
Respiratory surfaces
Comparative respiratory physiology
Neuronal control

Respiratory Physiology
Goals of GasEx
Exchange
O2 in
CO2 out
Circulation
O2 in
CO2 out

Gasses
Oxygen
aerobic respiration
most efficient
yield = 38 ATP
most cellular energy needed in 2 phosphate bonds
each = 12 kcal PE/mole
about 2300 kcal used/ day
= 128 moles ATP
= average person (2500 KCal diet) = 125 moles ATP
Glycolysis?

(glycolysis)
Anaerobic respiration
no Oxygen required
first step in aerobic respiration
low ATP yield (2)
dangerous waste products
pyruvate → lactic acid  (→ ethanol)
lactic acid buildup = yeeeouch!

Gasses
Carbon Dioxide
waste product of aerobic respiration
must be transported away from cells
build-up may change blood pH

Energy Conversion
Oxygen for energy conversion
What's ATP used for ?

Gasses and Blood pH
Blood pH tightly connected to CO2 levels
2 effects of CO2 Δ
1.  Respiratory Acidosis
pCO2 > 40 mm Hg
pH < 7.4 (mammalian)
causes:  ↓ gasex across alveoli, impaired gas diffusion
compensation:  renal

CO2 + HCO3- (bicarbonate)     H2CO3
Resorption--puts bicarb back into the system.
Why is resorption of bicarb by the kidney an important compensatory mechanism for respiratory acidosis?

GasEx and pH
2.  Respiratory Alkalosis
PCO2 < 40 mmHg
pH > 7.40
causes:  hyperventilation
compensation:  renal

pH control
changes in blood pH that result from respiratory problems
compensation through renal system
acidosis = elevation of plasma bicarb (to buffer)
result = ↓ carbonic acid (CO2), ↑ pH
alkalosis = decrease in plasma bicarb
result = ↑ carbonic acid (CO2), ↓ pH

Acidosis/Alkalosis
2 types
Respiratory
cause limited to gasex problems
compensatory mechanism is renal
Metabolic
cause is nutrient metabolism-related (could be secondary to infection)
main compensatory mechanism is respiratory (immediate in acute phases of disease)

Respiratory Surfaces
Thin for gasex
Ability to transport gases to other cells

Respiratory Surfaces
Lungs
mammals
amphibians
Gills
neotinic amphibians
fish
Skin
phibs

Mammalian Lungs
Anatomy
series of tubes (bronchi)
thin air sacs (alveoli)
adjacent to capillaries (blood stream)

Slide 19
Slide 20
Alveoli
Perfect respiratory surface
Air sacs
thin
moist
compliant
in close proximity to circulatory system

Slide 22
Why is the respiratory surface so close to the circulatory system?
Respiratory Pigments
How is Oxygen carried to cells?
Hemoglobin
present in some form in all vertebrates
protein + O2-binding pigment
Oxygen binding/affinity varies with environ
Affected by:
pH
PCO2
pO2
temperature

Driving force behind GasEx
Diffusion
Must take several factors into account:
Partial Pressure of O2 or CO2 in blood/tissues
" in atmosphere
Other inside or outside environmental factors
temperarure
pH

At rest
Pressure inside chest cavity
diaphragm at rest

Slide 27
Carbon Dioxide Out
Diaphragm relaxes
Positive pressure
CO2-rich air out

Slide 29
How Do We Know When to Breathe?
Main control in respiratory centers in medulla
motor out to diaphragm and intercostals
Mechanoreceptors
in chest wall and lungs
monitor ms. effort and lung volume changes
Chemoreceptors
arterial blood oxygenation detected at carotid artery and aortic arch
CO2 levels detected on medulla-sense CO2 tension within brain tissue

I didn't inhale
inhalation = active breathing
requires energy (ms)
stimulus from receptors
mechano
chemo
motor output from CNS
exhalation = passive
air out with elastic recoil

Thinking Questions
If the chest cavity is punctured?
If lung compliance (stretchability) is compromised
If blood pH is low
If blood pH is high

Amphibian Lungs
Phib Lungs
no chest muscles
no diaphragm
same lung anatomy
gulps air--positive pressure
gular pumping
contraction of gular ms. (floor of mouth/throat)
forces air down to lungs

Slide 35
Slide 36
GasEx through Skin
Gills
Fish, neotinic & larval amphibians
note key components to respiratory surface

Slide 39
Sum It Up
Why?
How?
Factors that affect gasex
Does the animal compensate internally or change its environment?

Thursday
GasEx in extreme conditions:
High altitude
O2/CO2 partial pressures
Mammalian fetal gasex
pigments
GasEx through an eggshell
EWL and...you're breathing through a shell!
Antarctic sea fish (brrrr)
what's temperature got to do with it?