Oxygen Poisoning in Mammals

Abstract

1. Oxygen in concentrations of over 70 per cent of an atmosphere is poisonous to dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs and mice. 2. The poisonous effects manifest themselves in drowsiness, anorexia, loss of weight, increasing dyspnea, cyanosis and death from oxygen want. 3. The cause of oxygen want is a destructive lesion of the lungs. 4. The lesion may be characterized grossly as an hemorrhagic edema. Microscopically there is to be seen in varying degrees of intensity (a) capillary engorgement with hemorrhage, (b) the presence of interstitial and intraalveolar serum, (c) hypertrophy and desquamation of alveolar cells, (d) interstitial and alveolar infiltration of mononuclear cells. 5. The type of tissue reaction is not characteristic of an infectious process and no organisms have been recovered at autopsy from the heart's blood or from lung puncture. 6. The poisonous effects of inhalations of oxygen-rich mixtures do not appear to be related to impurities in the oxygen, nor are they related to faulty ventilation, excessive moisture or increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of the chambers in which the experimental animals were confined.

Life and Death: Metabolic Rate, Membrane Composition, and Life Span of Animals

“…This became known as the Haber-Weiss reaction and is now believed to be at the core of much ROS generation in cells. However, the connection between oxygen toxicity and ROS generation was not then understood (27). Using electron spin resonance, Commoner et al (67) published the first direct evidence that free radicals were produced in living cells and found that free radical levels were higher in tissues that were more metabolically active.…”

Depressant Effects of High Concentrations of Inspired Oxygen on Erythrocytogenesis. Observations on Patients With Sickle Cell Anemia With a Description of the Observed Toxic Manifestations of Oxygen 12

“…Barach has reported that pulmonary edema invariably develops in rabbits given oxygen in concentrations of 80 per cent or more (23). Binger also observed pneumonia in dogs, rabbits, and guinea pigs exposed to 80 per cent oxygen; the first symptoms of respiratory distress appeared in 2 to 5 days (24). Paine chamber the air supply of which contained 90 per cent oxygen.…”

Experimental Immersion Foot. II. Functional and Histological Changes in the Rabbit Leg Exposed to Water at 3°C., and Therapeutic Trial of Cortisone and of Inhaled Oxygen1

“…Toxicity to oxygen has been reported in rabbits, featuring widespread pulmonary lesions (4). For this reason, the heart and lungs were examined in 9 of the rabbits receiving oxygen, in 2 of the rabbits receiving cortisone, and in 12 of the control series.…”