Function–Structure Correlation Studies on Excised Hamster Lungs in Papain-induced Emphysema

Abstract
Emphysematous lesions induced by a single exposure of hamsters to papain aerosol were evaluated both physiologically (lung elastic recoil) and histologically (mean linear intercept). The extent of the developed lesions was directly related to the concentration of papain employed, and progressed with time following exposure. Histological evaluation was most sensitive for quantitation of minimal lesions; an approximate 20% increase of the mean linear intercept being required for significant functional changes. Maximal mean increase of the mean linear intercept compatible with survival was approximately 75%. Using raw data values, all functional tests exhibited high correlation coefficients (r) with histological evaluation, but prediction efficiencies (r2) were below a practically acceptable value of 75%. However, using group mean values, thereby reducing individual biological variations, higher correlation coefficients as well as high prediction efficiencies were obtained for all functional tests with histological evaluation. In this regard, best prediction efficiencies were obtained for the functional specific static compliance and specific volume at full inflation versus the morphological mean linear intercept.

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