The Effect of Maintained Ammonium Chloride Acidosis on the Relation Between Pulmonary Ventilation and Alveolar Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide in Man

Five men ingested about 12 g. NH 4 Cl daily for about a week. Acidæmia was assessed by measuring plasma (HCO 3 ) and alveolar pCO 2 . Before, during and after the period of ingestion the subjects were given various gas mixtures to breathe, and pulmonary ventilation (V) and the alveolar gas pressures (pCO 2 , pO 2 ) were measured in the steady state. The effect of acidæmia on the parameters of the equation was examined. Only B, which is related to the “CO 2 ‐threshold”, was consistently changed, being reduced in acidæmia.