Respiratory Control / Therapeutic Hypoxia

For understanding control of breathing, scientists use a variety of in vivo models where oxygen levels and carbon dioxide are controlled to gain insight about: hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) and hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR).

To assess therapeutic potential of hypoxia, researchers employ a variety of animal research models where controlled exchanges between normoxia (21% O₂ in atmosphere) and modest hypoxia occur. Studies with intermittent hypoxia (or episodic hypoxia) ask questions about possible enhancement of: breathing control, respiratory plasticity, control of ventilation, and neural plasticity.

Flexible options for controlling O₂ and CO₂ permit scientists to establish new in vivo models or replicate existing respiratory models. Researchers select values for: ramp, soak, peak, trough, frequency, and duration to carry out precisely controlled hypoxic (and hypercapnic) studies. Different protocols may be performed simultaneously using independently programmed chambers that permit greater research throughput or accommodate the needs of multiple laboratories at the same time. Learn more about how BioSpherix’s cell equipment can be used in assessing the potential of hypoxia therapy below.