Ventilatory effects of chronic cigarette smoke (CS) alone or associated to chronic hypoxia
(CH), as frequently occurs in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), remain unknown. We
have addressed this problem using whole-body plethysmography in guinea-pigs, common models to
study harmful effects of CS on the respiratory system. Breathing frequencies (Bf) in control
(2–5 months old) guinea pigs is 90–100 breaths/min, their tidal volume (TV) increased with age but
lagged behind body weight gain and, as consequence, their minute volume (MV)/Kg decreased with
age. MV did not change by acutely breathing 10% O 2 but doubled while breathing 5% CO 2 in air.
Exposure to chronic sustained hypoxia (15 days, 12% O 2 , CH) did not elicit ventilatory acclimatization
nor adaptation. These fi ndings con fi rm the unresponsiveness of the guinea pig CB to hypoxia.
Exposure to CS (3 months) increased Bf and MV but association with CH blunted CS effects. We
conclude that CS and CH association accelerates CS-induced respiratory system damage leading to a
hypoventilation that can worsen the ongoing COPD process.
