HCl Infusion Stimulates the Release of a Substance from the Blood Which Alters Breathing and Blood Pressure

Abstract

Intravenous infusion of strong acids, such as hydrochloric acid, has been previously used by various investigators as a means to lower blood pH in the study of respiratory or cardiovascular responses to acidosis. A previous report from our laboratory has demonstrated that infusion of HCl at a constant circulating blood pH causes the release of a substance from the blood that affects breathing and blood pressure (Orr et al., 1987). Repeated infusion of HCl in the same animal failed to elicit the response, either because the causative agent was depleted during the initial infusion or because the animal became refractory to the agent.