Is there a significant gas exchange through the skin of the shrew Crocidura russula monacha?
Mover-Lev H; Minzberg H; Ar A Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel. Because of its small body mass, the shrew Crocidura russula monacha has a relatively high surface area to volume ratio, thin skin, and high thermal conductance compared with larger mammals. This study was aimed at examining the possibility that such a mammal may exhibit a significant skin gas exchange. Gas composition was measured in subcutaneous gas pockets. CO2 and O2 exchange through skin were measured both in vitro and in vivo. In 7-wk-old gas pockets, the steady-state PO2 and PCO2 values were 50 Torr (where 1 Torr = 133.322 Pa) and 35 Torr, respectively, compared with PO2 and Pco2 values of 73 Torr and 33 Torr, respectively, in 1-wk-old gas pockets. These changes are attributed to an increased capillary density and a decreased skin thickness after 7 wk. There was no significant gas exchange through skin during in vitro measurements. In vivo measureme
