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J Appl Physiol (April 15, 2002). doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00779.2001
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Articles in PresS, published online ahead of print April 15, 2002
J Appl Physiol, 10.1152/jap.00779.2001
Submitted on July 25, 2001
Accepted on April 8, 2002

Increased surface tension decreases pulmonary capillary volume and compliance

George P Topulos1*, Richard E Brown2, and James P Butler1

1 Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Physiology Program, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
2 Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: topulos{at}zeus.bwh.harvard.edu.

Increased surface tension is an important component of several respiratory diseases, but its effects on pulmonary capillary mechanics are incompletely understood. We measured capillary volume and specific compliance before and after increasing surface tension with nebulized siloxane in excised dog lungs. The change in surface tension was sufficient to increase lung recoil 5 cmH2O at 50% TLC. Increased surface tension decreased both capillary volume and specific compliance. The changes in capillary volume and compliance were greatest at the lung volumes at which the surface tension change was greatest. Near FRC, capillary volume post-siloxane was about 30% of control. Pre-siloxane capillary specific compliance was about 7%/cmH2O near FRC and about 2.5%/cmH2O near TLC. Post-siloxane capillary specific compliance was 3%/cmH2O, and was independent of lung volume. We conclude that in addition to their well-known effects on lung mechanics, changes in surface tension also have important effects on capillary mechanics. We speculate that these changes may in turn affect ventilation and perfusion, worsen gas exchange, and alter leukocyte sequestration.




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