Arterial blood gases of the domestic hen

Abstract

Individual blood samples were collected anaerobically from the brachial arteries of adult White Rock hens and were analyzed for Po2, Pco2, pH, oxygen content and capacity, and CO2 content and capacity. A dissociation curve was constructed from data on equilibration of pooled venous blood. The average arterial oxygen saturation was 90%, the Pco2 was about 32 mm Hg, the Po2 was between 94 and 99 mm Hg, and the pH averaged 7.49. The dissociation curve, as has been shown before, was shifted to the right of most homeothermic species.