Effect of nasogastric administration of sodium bicarbonate on carbon 13 isotopic enrichment of carbon dioxide in serum of horses

Abstract

Objective - To determine the effect of administration of commercially available sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) on carbon 13 (13C) isotopic enrichment of carbon dioxide (CO2) in serum of horses. Animals - 7 healthy Thoroughbreds. Procedures - Sodium bicarbonate (450 g) was administered via nasogastric intubation to horses. Horses had been fed a diet obtained from the same source and had access to water from the same source for 3 months before the study. Blood samples were collected immediately before and at 2, 4, 6, and 24 hours after administration of NaHCO3. The concentration of total CO2 in serum was measured by use of a commercial analyzer. The 13C enrichment of bicarbonate in serum was esti..