Dear colleagues,
We are pleased to announce the publication of our recent paper:
Title: Fahlman, A., S. H.
Loring, S. Johnson, M. Haulena, A. W. Trites, V. A. Fravel and W. Van Bonn
(2014). "Inflation and deflation pressure-volume loops in anesthetized
pinnipeds confirms compliant chest and lungs." Frontiers in Physiology 5.
Abstract: We examined structural properties
of the marine mammal respiratory system, and tested Scholander’s hypothesis
that the chest is highly compliant by measuring the mechanical properties of the respiratory system
in five species of pinniped under anesthesia (Pacific harbor seal, Phoca vitulina; northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris; northern fur seal Callorhinus ursinus; California sea lion, Zalophus
californianus; and
Steller sea lion, Eumetopias jubatus). We found that the chest wall compliance (CCW) of
all five species was greater than lung compliance (airways and alveoli, CL)
as predicted by Scholander, which suggests that the chest provides little
protection against alveolar collapse or lung squeeze. We also found that
specific respiratory compliance was significantly greater in wild animals than
in animals raised in an aquatic facility. While differences in ages between the
two groups may affect this incidental finding, it is also possible that lung
conditioning in free-living animals may increase pulmonary compliance and
reduce the risk of lung squeeze during diving. Overall, our data indicate that
compliance of excised pinniped lungs provide a good estimate of total
respiratory compliance.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Andreas