P425

         Bull Eur Physiopathol Respir 1982 Jan-Feb;18(1):75-9

        Enlargement of carotid bodies in rats with lung emphysema or silicosis.

        Herget J, Brown CA, Kutilek S, Barer GR, Palecek F.

        Volume of carotid bodies was measured morphometrically in rats with

        experimental lung emphysema or silicosis. The mean volume of the left

        carotid body was 19.9  (SD) 12.4 in 13 control rats, 30.7  12.5 in

        9 rats with lung emphysema, and 41  18.9 . 10(6) micrometer 3 in 10

        rats with lung silicosis. There was no correlation between carotid body

        volume and pulmonary arterial blood pressure. A good correlation was

        found between the volume of carotid body and partial pressure of oxygen

        in arterial blood. The functional meaning of the increase of volume of

        carotid bodies in rats with chronic respiratory insufficiency remains

        unclear.