Evaluation of redox state of isolated perfused rat lung

The metabolic responsiveness of lung tissue to inhibition of oxidative metabolism was determined by measurement of the redox state of the isolated perfused and ventilated rat lung. Changes in redox state were evaluated by fluorescence from the lung surface at wavelengths suitable for reduced pyridine nucleotides and by measurement of the ratios of redox couples in rapidly frozen lung tissue. Maximal change of redox state was observed during ventilation with carbon monoxide; surface fluorescence increased 6.6%, lactate/pyruvate increased 5.8 times, glycerol 3-P/dihydroxyacetone-P increased fourfold and glutamate/alpha-ketoglutarate doubled. KCN infusion resulted in similar changes. Hypoxia produced with N2 ventilation resulted in less than maximal changes in redox couple ratios until alveolar PO2 was reduced below 0.1 mmHg. Redox changes observed during infusion of 0.5 mM aminoxyacetic acid suggested that maintenance of cytoplasmic redox state depended on functioning of a malate-aspartate "shuttle." The isolated perfused lung appears suitable to study factors controlling pulmonary parenchymal oxidative metabolism. The results emphasize the need for ventilation with CO to establish intracellular anoxia.