APStracts 3:0162A, 1996.

Bronchial vascular reabsorption of low protein interstitial edema liquid in perfused sheep lungs. Fukue, Masataka, Vladimir B. Serikov, and E. Heidi Jerome. Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Anesthesia, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143

APStracts 3:0162A, 1996.

Previously we quantified reabsorption of interstitial pulmonary edema liquid into the pulmonary circulation during recovery from hydrostatic edema. To determine whether the bronchial circulation also reabsorbs edema liquid, we made very low protein interstitial edema in seven sheep lungs by perfusion of the pulmonary circulation with diluted blood and 1% albumin in Krebs-Henseleit buffer, containing 125I-albumin for 70+/-40 min. In eight control sheep we perfused the lungs with diluted blood and 5% albumin in Krebs -Henseleit buffer containing 125I-albumin without causing significant edema formation. Subsequently, we washed the intravascular tracer from the pulmonary circulation with buffered saline, then perfused the bronchial vessels via the bronchoesophageal artery with whole or diluted blood (normal protein osmotic pressure). We measured flow, hematocrit and 125I-albumin concentration in the venous outflow into the left atrium and into the azygos vein for 2 h. We calculated the volume of liquid reabsorbed based on the change in hematocrit and on 125I-albumin concentration in the outflow. Based on hematocrit dilution, the net clearance of interstitial liquid (edema minus control) averaged 21 ml (15% of the induced edema). Based on 125I -albumin reabsorption, the net clearance of interstitial liquid was 12 ml. We conclude that the bronchial circulation may be a clearance route for interstitial liquid and protein during recovery from low protein hydrostatic edema.

Received 11 October 1993; accepted in final form 20 October 1995.
APS Manuscript Number A992-3.
Article publication pending Journal of Applied Physiology.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 27 March 96