The effect of nasal obstruction on the susceptibility of mice to noxious gases (Japanese)

Abstract

The effect of nasal obstruction on mice, forced to breathe through the mouth, was studied when the animals were exposed to noxious gases. It was noted that the forced mouth breathing made the mice less vulnerable to hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide and toluen vapor when expressed by the time interval before they lost righting reflex or showed respiratory arrest. The levels of the gases which could induce these signs within 5-10 min were significantly elevated with the 'mouth breathing' mice. Possible mechanisms for this phenomenon and its application for man were discussed.