Articles

BRONCHOVASCULAR CUFF FORMATION AND LUNG LYMPH FLOW IN EDEMA FORMATION OF ANESTHETIZED SHEEP

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Abstract

The relationship between bronchovascular cuff formation and lung lymph flow in hydrostatic edema was evaluated. After a balloon was inserted into the left atrium to increase left atrial pressure for 5 hrs, peripheral lung tissues were resected for analysis of the wet-dry ratio and cuff formation. The degree of cuff formation was expressed as the cuff ratio (outer diameter of cuff / outer diameter of microvessel or airway) in three size categories: 80-200, 200-400, and 400-750 μm in diameter.The amount of excess lung lymph (Ex LL) for 5 hrs was calculated from the recorded data for the whole lymph flow wave. The wet-dry ratio showed a significant correlation with ΔLAP and lung lymph flow increased significantly (flow rate, 0.67 ± 0.46 ml/min (mean ±SD); Ex LL, 56.4 ± 47.6 ml). Cuff formation was found at all levels of the bronchovascular tree, with a larger cuff ratio (>1.3) observed at arteries and veins of 80-200 &m in diameter,but a significant correlation with Ex LL was found only for arteries of 80-200 μm. Fluid accumulation in lung interstitium first occurred at smaller extra-alveolar arteries even under mild hydrostatic pressure elevation with a significant increase in lymph flow.

Keywords: lung lymph, bronchovascular cuff, interstitial pulmonary edema, hydrostatic pressure edema, lung fluid balance, sheep

How to Cite:

Naito, T., Ozawa, Y., Tomoyasu, M., Inagaki, M., Fukue, M., Goto, Y., Sakai, M., Yamamoto, T., Ishikawa, S. & Onizuka, M., (2009) “BRONCHOVASCULAR CUFF FORMATION AND LUNG LYMPH FLOW IN EDEMA FORMATION OF ANESTHETIZED SHEEP”, Lymphology 42(3), 112-122.