Comparison of microvascular filtration characteristics in isolated and intact lungs

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Abstract
To determine whether the microvascular membrane of isolated perfused dog lungs is damaged by the isolation procedure, the filtration coefficient (Kf,c) and minimum capillary pressure (Pcc) required to cause continuous edema formation in 10 intact and 8 isolated dog lower left lobes were compared. The same gravimetric technique was used to measure Kf,c and Pcc in both preparations. The Kf,c averaged 0.09 .+-. 0.03 (SD) ml/min per Torr per 100 g in the intact and 0.30 .+-. 0.16 in the isolated lobes; Pcc averaged 20.1 .+-. 4.7 and 1.7 .+-. 3.6 Torr in the intact and isolated lobes, respectively. Both Pcc and Kf,c were significantly different in the 2 preparations (P < 0.01). The increased tendency of isolated lungs to become edematous at lower pressures may be caused by damage to the microvascular membranes.