Pulmonary circulation and loss of microspheres from the lung following acute pulmonary venous occlusion

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Abstract
The pulmonary vein from right upper lobe was ligated in 15 rats while 15 others served as controls. Prior to occlusion, 15 μm microspheres were injected into the superior caval vein. Another population of 15 μm microspheres was similarly given 1 min, 10 min or 30 min after ligation. All rats were killed 5 min after the second microsphere injection. The weight of the ligated lobe was 63% higher than that of the controls. This was probably due to acute vascular congestion since no significant oedema developed. Increased weight caused a reduction in the number of preocclusion microspheres per gram of tissue in the ligated lobe. In addition a gradual loss of preocclusion microspheres took place following pulmonary venous ligation. After 35 min of ligation, 30% of the preocclusion spheres had disappeared from the ligated lobe. Postocclusion flow through the pulmonary artery into right upper lobe was estimated by microspheres from the second injection, and averaged 5% of normal flow. Following acute venous occlusion, a rapid dilatation of the bronchopulmonary communicating system probably takes place. By reversal of the flow in this system, blood and microspheres can be drained into the bronchial venous circulation. In spite of methodological problems caused by acute congestion and loss of microspheres after pulmonary venous occlusion, we consider the microsphere method to be useful for further studies of collateral lung circulation.