Effects of Curare on Elastic Properties of Chest and Lungs of the Dog

¹ From the Department of Physiology, The University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York

The effect of curare on the elastance of the chest-lung system was studied in dogs, using a method which measured chest cage and lung elastance separately. Injection of curare increased total chest elastance 48.1%. The lungs contribute 42.2%, the chest cage 5.9% to this increase in stiffness. The effect of curare could be simulated by histamine and inhibited by Pyribenzamine. Static elastance measurements indicate that the increase of elastance is not a simple function of bronchoconstriction. Increase of surface tension forces at the air-fluid interface and transudation into the alveoli are suggested as possible mechanisms which could lead to a closure of terminal airways. The static elastance increase would then reflect a decrease of the air compartment available for ventilation.