Direct measurements of the ventilatory response to variations in CO2 tension independent of changes in O2 tension are easily obtained by breathing mixtures of carbon dioxide in 100% oxygen. Direct determination of the respiratory response to O2, however, is not possible due to alternations in CO2 tension resulting from changes in ventilation. Therefore, an attempt has been made to determine this response empirically by a combined analysis of breath-holding and ventilatory data. Comparison of experimentally determined responses to various combinations of O2 and CO2 tensions agree quite well with those predicted by this approach and indicate that oxygen plays a small but definite role in the regulation of eupnic breathing at sea level. Submitted on October 22, 1958
