Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 61, Issue 5 1830-1835, Copyright © 1986 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Lymph flow and lung weight in isolated sheep lungs

W. Mitzner and J. T. Sylvester

To study the relationship between lung weight and lymph flow, we used an in situ, isolated sheep lung preparation that allowed these two variables to be measured simultaneously. All lungs were perfused for 4.5 h at a constant rate of 100 ml X min-1 X kg-1. In control lungs, the left atrial pressure (Pla) was kept at atmospheric pressure. In experimental lungs, Pla was kept atmospheric except for a 50-min elevation to 18 mmHg midway through the perfusion. During this period of left atrial hypertension, pulmonary arterial pressure rose from 18 to 31 mmHg, lymph flow rose from 3 to 12 ml/h, and the lymph-to-plasma oncotic pressure ratio (pi L/pi P) fell from 0.7 to 0.48. After left atrial pressure was returned to control, pulmonary arterial pressure, lymph flow, and pi L/pi P all returned to control levels. The rate of weight gain after the return of left atrial pressure to control was also the same as that in the control group. However, during the period of left atrial hypertension 135 ml of fluid were filtered into the lung, and this large increase in lung weight remained after the pressure was lowered. The presence of this substantial excess lung water despite control values for vascular pressures, lymph flow, rate of weight gain, and pi L/pi P suggests that the absolute amount of lung water has little influence on the dynamic aspects of lung fluid balance. These results are consistent with a two-compartment model of the interstitial space, where only one of the compartments is readily drained by the lymphatics.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Vengust, H. Staempfli, L. Viel, and G. Heigenhauser Transvascular fluid flux from the pulmonary vasculature at rest and during exercise in horses J. Physiol., January 15, 2006; 570(2): 397 - 405. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. B. Pearse, R. M. Searcy, W. Mitzner, S. Permutt, and J. T. Sylvester Effects of tidal volume and respiratory frequency on lung lymph flow J Appl Physiol, August 1, 2005; 99(2): 556 - 563. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. M. Wagner, S. Blosser, and W. Mitzner Bronchial vascular contribution to lung lymph flow J Appl Physiol, December 1, 1998; 85(6): 2190 - 2195. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Friedman, S. Y. Wang, F. W. Sellke, W. E. Cohn, R. M. Weintraub, and R. G. Johnson NEUTROPHIL ADHESION BLOCKADE WITH NPC 15669 DECREASES PULMONARY INJURY AFTER TOTAL CARDIOPULMONARY BYPASS J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., February 1, 1996; 111(2): 460 - 468. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Friedman, S. Y. Wang, F. W. Sellke, A. Franklin, R. M. Weintraub, and R. G. Johnson Pulmonary Injury After Total or Partial Cardiopulmonary Bypass With Thromboxane Synthesis Inhibition Ann. Thorac. Surg., March 1, 1995; 59(3): 598 - 603. [Abstract] [Full Text]