Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 43, Issue 3 557-562, Copyright © 1977 by American Physiological Society
Isolated, ventilated, perfused newborn rabbit lung preparation and its assessment
E. B. Olson Jr, H. Orbeck, S. N. Graven and R. D. Zachman
To achieve an isolated, ventilated, perfused newborn rabbit lung
preparation, newborn rabbits are anesthetized and ventilated. The pulmonary
vasculature is perfused with a Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution containing
glucose and plasma expanders, and the lungs are isolated in a 37 degrees C
chamber at 100% humidity. The success of a perfusion is evaluated on three
levels. 1) Visual. 2)mechanical: a, drop in flow of greater than 20%
indicates failure; b, an increase of more than 25% of the initial lung
weight indicates fluid accumulation and failure. 3) Biochemical: a, the
endogenous ATP concentration after perfusion; b, the level of the enzyme
choline phosphotransferase (CPT) after perfusion. Isolated, perfused,
ventilated newborn rabbit lungs maintained for 4 h with no changes in the
monitored physical and mechanical parameters have an endogenous ATP level
of 1.06 +/- 0.06 (2 SD) mumol ATP/mg wet weight and a CPT level of 1.34
+/-0.15 (2 SD nmol [14C]CDP-choline per milligram protein in 30 min. These
values are stable at a level lower than observed in intact, hypoxic,
newborn rabbit's lungs. In constrast, if perfusion is maintained after any
of the monitored criteria indicate failure, the endogenous ATP
concentration and CPT activity are significantly depressed.
