Physiological Tolerance Study of Chimpanzees Breathing 100 Percent Oxygen at 5 p.S.I

摘要

Three restrained, immature chimpanzees were subjected to a simulated pre-launch 100 percent oxygen environment at 14.7 p.s.i.a. for 15 hours and 15 minutes and an orbital period of 5 p.s.i.a. for 81 hours and 45 minutes. These animals also served as subjects for the same period of time in a 20 percent oxygen environment at sea-level pressure. One additional subject was tested in a 20 percent oxygen environment but failed to be tested in the 100 percent oxygen environment. Only two animals successfully completed both the 100 percent oxygen test and the 20 percent oxygen control test. During these periods the subjects were isolated in a chamber and performed psychomotor tasks at regular intervals in both the experimental and control environments. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and medial thigh skin temperatures were monitored and recorded during these experiments. Clinical examinations and hematological and serum biochemical determinations were performed before and following each test. The only significant findings were a marked bradycardia and a reduced respiratory rate observed during exposure to the 100 percent oxygen environment.