Blood acid-base changes during acute experimental inflammation in rats.

Acidosis has often been reported in inflamed tissues, and changes in strong relevant ions at the site of inflammation may provoke alterations in blood acid-base status. We measured changes in blood acid-base variables during carrageenan-induced inflammation in rats. We found a mixed acid-base disorder in rat blood during acute inflammation (12, 24, and 48 h). A metabolic acid contribution was found during the first 12 h and maintained further, as revealed by a decrease in plasma strong ion concentration difference ([SID]) and an increase in plasma weak acid concentration due to a rise in inorganic phosphate ([ATOT]P(i)). Plasma [SID] and [ATOT]P(i) changes were probably due to exchange of Na+ and P(i) between the inflammatory exudate and rat blood. A secondary respiratory compensation for the metabolic acid changes occurred in the blood of inflamed rats, resulting in significant hypocapnia. Furthermore, a progressive decrease in the total weak acid buffer concentration due to a decrease in plasma albumin ([ATOT]Alb) also counteracted the impact of changes in [SID] and P(i) to increase blood acidity. Therefore, despite the metabolic acid-base disorders induced by inflammatory processes, hydrogen ion (H+) homeostasis was maintained, and blood pH remained essentially unchanged in the inflamed rats.