Effects of Pulmonary Artery Ligation on Pulmonary Surfactant and Pressure-Volume Characteristics of Dog Lung

• Published in: Circulation research 1966-06, Vol.18 (6), p.683-691
• Main Authors: Giammona, Samuel T, Mandelbaum, Isidore, Foy, James, Bondurant, Stuart
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Dogs; In Vitro Techniques; Lung - physiology; Organ Size; Pressure; Pulmonary Artery - surgery; Respiration; Respiratory Function Tests; Surface Tension; Surface-Active Agents; Tissue Extracts
• ISSN: 0009-7330; 1524-4571
• DOI: 10.1161/01.RES.18.6.683

The effects of pulmonary artery ligation upon pulmonary surfactant and upon the pressure-volume characteristics of the canine lung were studied. Four hours after ligation of one pulmonary artery the two lungs had similar deflation pressure-volume curves and extracts from these lungs had similar surface tension. Two weeks after ligation, the lungs with a ligated PA differed from the contralateral lungs in having a smaller fraction of total volume retained at each pressure during deflation, and extracts with a higher minimal surface tension, and a lower surfactant activity index. Low but significant correlations were observed between the fractional volume at 15 cm H2O transpulmonary pressure and the minimal surface tension of the lung extracts (Wilhelmy balance), between the fractional volume of 15 cm H2O transpulmonary pressure and the surfactant activity index, and between the surfactant activity index and the lung stability index. These data suggest a close relationship between altered surface forces and the pressure-volume characteristics of the lung after pulmonary artery ligation.