Measurement of osmotic reflection coefficient for small molecules in cat hindlimbs

Capillary osmotic reflection coefficients (sigma) for NaCl, urea, sucrose, and raffinose were measured in the isolated, perfused cat hindlimb using the osmotic transient technique. sigma were determined from the ratio of the maximum rate of transcapillary absorption [delta Jv(max)] to the increase in the osmotic pressure (25-35 mosmol/kg H2O) in the arterial inflow (delta pi a) produced by adding one of the molecules to an albumin-electrolyte perfusate containing isoproterenol (greater than 10(-7) M). delta Jv (max) was determined from organ weight and delta pi a from perfusate osmolalities. For each molecule, the delta Jv(max)/delta pi a ratio increased monotonically with perfusate flow rates (Q) to Q greater than 100 ml.min-1.100 g-1. This ratio was independent of the size of the delta pi a. Apparent sigma values were calculated by dividing these ratios by the capillary hydraulic capacity determined in other studies. At low Q, apparent sigma was comparable to the approximately 0.1 values found by others in skeletal muscle. At the highest Q, apparent sigma for these molecules were at least 0.5. These data are consistent with at least 50% of transcapillary water flow moving through a water-exclusive pathway.