Water permeability of alveolar macrophages

The hydraulic conductivity coefficient (Lp) of alveolar macrophages, recovered by lavage from dog lungs, was determined by following volume changes induced by changes of nonpermeating solute concentrations of suspending fluid as a function of time at 20 degrees C. The volume changes were monitored as changes in absorbance of the suspended cells at 600 nm. Cell surface area was calculated from cell volume and diameter. Linear relationships between cell volume and solution osmolality changes were found over the range of 320-520 mosmol/kg; beyond these ranges the macrophages did not respond with swelling or shrinking. Lp and the filtration coefficient (Pf) were calculated from the total volume change over time. At 20 degrees C these were, respectively, 15.7 X 10(-10) cm X cmH2O-1 X s-1 and 217 X 10(-5) cm/s. Comparison of Pf and the diffusional permeability coefficient (Pd) for water of 70 X 10(-5) cm/s, yields a Pf-to-Pd ratio of 3.1. The hypothesis of water passage through aqueous membrane pores is compatible with these data. However, diffusion of water in the glycocalyx of the pericellular domain could be restricted. Pd would then be underestimated, and a falsely high ratio would be calculated. We have no evidence to support this possibility.