Pulmonary vascular extraction and distribution of antipyrine with alveolar flooding

Transport characteristics of antipyrine (AP), 22Na+, and tritiated water (THO) were assessed in dog lungs by multiple indicator-dilution experiments in vivo with anesthesia and in isolated perfused preparations before and after alveolar flooding. In controls, outflow patterns of AP and THO were nearly identical. In flooding, AP and THO patterns separated. THO upslopes decreased and mean (t) and modal (tmax) transit times increased as flooding increased; AP initial upslopes remained relatively unchanged but t increased, whereas tmax decreased. Patterns of 22Na+ were unchanged. The results indicate 22Na+ limitation at the endothelium, AP limitation only at the epithelium, and no THO limitation. A mathematical model is based on axial and orthogonal distribution of AP and THO. With alveolar flooding, diffusional distance may be a limiting factor in this distribution.