Theta values for C16O18O and C18O2related to respective pulmonary diffusing capacities.

The single-breath diffusing capacities for singly and doubly 18O-labeled CO2,[Formula: see text]and[Formula: see text], as well as for NO, were determined in seven anesthetized rabbits to investigate whether the theoretically predicted ratio of specific blood uptake rates of both isotopic CO2species,[Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text]= 2.0, can be derived from the measured values of[Formula: see text]and[Formula: see text]. Data of Dl were obtained by inflating the lungs with gas mixtures containing 0.35% C16O18O or 0.8% C18O2or 0.05% NO in nitrogen, with breath-holding periods of 0.05-0.5 s and 2-12 s for the CO2 and NO tests, respectively.[Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text]was calculated by applying the double-reciprocal Roughton-Forster equation to Dl values obtained in each animal and by assuming that NO diffusing capacity represents the gas conductance of the alveolar-capillary membrane. The measured ratio was[Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text]= 1.9 ± 0.2 (mean ± SD), thus comparing reasonably with the predicted one. Therefore, our findings provide evidence that the greater value of[Formula: see text]is mainly due to the twofold higher probability (or theta value) for C18O2than for C16O18O to disappear within red blood cells via isotopic exchange reactions.