Pulmonary function testing in the rabbit.

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Abstract
This communication reports on the practicability of pulmonary function testing in the rabbit. The methodology made use of techniques developed for human studies. It involved general anesthesia and endotracheal intubation with a cuffed tube to provide a leakproof airway. This permitted serial testing at weekly intervals of ventilation, FRC [functional residual capacity], pulmonary compliance, and nonelastic resistance. In addition, a superficial, easily accessible ear artery facilitated the collection of arterial blood for study of gas tensions in the unanesthetized animal. All these tests were well tolerated. It is concluded that the rabbit is an eminently suitable subject for functional respiratory studies in mammalian experimental physiology.