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Biomedical subjects

J Bhattacharya

Publications and source records attributed to J Bhattacharya.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Effect of dehydration on interstitial pressures in the isolated dog lung.

We have determined the effect of dehydration on regional lung interstitial pressures. We stopped blood flow in the isolated blood-perfused lobe of dog lung at vascular pressure of approximately 4 cmH2O. Then we recorded interstitial pressures by micropuncture at alveolar junctions (Pjct), in perimicrovascular adventitia (Padv), and at the hilum (Phil). After base-line measurements, we ventilated the lobes with dry gas to decrease extravascular lung water content by 14 +/- 5%. In one group (n = 10), at constant inflation pressure of 7 cmH2O, Pjct was 0.2 +/- 0.8 and Padv was -1.5 +/- 0.6 cmH2O. After dehydration the pressures fell to -5.0 +/- 1.0 and -5.3 +/- 1.3 cmH2O, respectively (P less than 0.01), and the junction-to-advential gradient (Pjct-Padv) was abolished. In a second group (n = 6) a combination of dehydration and lung expansion with inflation pressure of 15 cmH2O further decreased Pjct and Padv to -7.3 +/- 0.7 and -7.1 +/- 0.7 cmH2O, respectively. Phil followed changes in Padv. Interstitial compliance was 0.6 at the junctions, 0.8 in adventitia, and 0.9 ml.cmH2O-1.100 g-1 wet lung at the hilum. We conclude, that perialveolar interstitial pressures may provide an important mechanism for prevention of lung dehydration.

Animals↗

Measurement of lung microvascular pressure in the intact anesthetized rabbit by the micropuncture technique.

We have developed a micropuncture technique for the measurement of microvascular pressure in the intact lung of rabbit. We anesthetized 16 rabbits (halothane, 0.8%) and mechanically ventilated them through a tracheotomy. Then, we exposed the right lung by rib resection over the right anterior chest. We measured pulmonary artery, left atrial, and systemic pressures by direct catheterization and cardiac output by the thermodilution technique. For micropuncture, we stabilized the lung on a shelf and stopped ventilation for 3-4 minutes at an airway pressure of 7 cm H2O. We injected pancuronium intravenously to paralyze the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. Of the total pulmonary vascular pressure drop, 52% occurred in the microvascular segment between arterioles and venules of 20 micron diameter, 28% occurred in the arterial segment, and 20% occurred in the venous segment. We conclude that in the intact lung of rabbit, the major pressure drop occurs in the microvascular segment.

Anesthesia↗

Lung microvascular pressure profile measured by micropuncture in anesthetized dogs.

We have micropunctured the lung in the open thorax of 17 anesthetized dogs to measure microvascular pressure. After intravenous pentobarbital sodium (25 mg/kg), we exposed the left lung through a wide left thoracotomy, which required rib excision. Through a double-lumen endotracheal tube, we ventilated the right lung to maintain normal blood gases and pH while we held the left lung motionless at an inflation pressure of 5 cmH2O. To reduce motion on the surface of the left lower lobe, we resected the left upper lobe, placed a Plexiglas baffle between the lobe and the heart, and held the lobe surface in a suction ring. In accordance with procedures we have previously described, we micropunctured subpleural vessels to measure microvascular pressure. At base line when alveolar pressure exceeded left atrial pressure (zone 2 conditions), 21, 38, and 41% of the total pressure drop occurred, respectively, in the arterial, microvascular, and venous segments. When we raised left atrial pressure above alveolar pressure (zone 3 conditions), the corresponding pressure drops were 30, 55, and 20% of total. The blood flow in the superficial layer of the lung averaged 15% less than the flow in the deeper layers as measured by distribution of 99mTc-albumin macroaggregates. We conclude that the intact and the isolated lung preparations in dog exhibit similar distributions of subpleural microvascular pressure.

Animals↗

Hydraulic conductivity of lung venules determined by split-drop technique.

The split-drop method has been used to determine filtration rate per unit surface area in the single pulmonary venule. In isolated perfused lungs of nine dogs, blood flow was stopped at different vascular pressures. By means of a double-micropuncture technique under stereomicroscopy, an oil drop was injected in a subpleural venule. The oil drop was then split with a solution of albumin (5.6 g/100 ml) in Ringer lactate. As the Ringer-albumin solution filtered, the distance between the menisci of the split oil drop (split-drop length) decreased. The split-drop geometry and the rate of change of split-drop length were recorded. The calculated venular filtration rate per unit surface area related linearly with vascular pressure (P less than 0.05). The slope of the line equaled venular hydraulic conductivity, which averaged 2.9 +/- 0.02 x 10(-7) ml/(cm2.s.cmH2O). Hydraulic conductivity is lower in lung than in systemic venules.

Animals↗

Filtration profile in isolated zone 1 and zone 3 dog lungs at constant high alveolar pressure.

We measured the rate of liquid filtration in isolated dog lung lobes inflated to a constant alveolar pressure of 25 cmH2O and with all open vessels filled with plasma. We measured lung weight gain at vascular pressures ranging from 5 to 40 cmH2O relative to pleural pressure. We confirmed that under zone 1 conditions the "arterial" and "venous" extra-alveolar segments have essentially the same filtration characteristics. Using the combined extra-alveolar vascular system, we determined when recruitment of filtration surface area occurred as we increased vascular pressure from 0 to 40 cmH2O. Based on an abrupt increase in filtration rate as vascular pressure approached the zone 1/3 boundary, we infer that a sudden recruitment of exchange surface area occurred at that point. Based on the slopes of the zone 1 and zone 3 filtration profiles, we conclude that extra-alveolar vascular segments contribute approximately 25% of total to filtration in the lung under zone 3 conditions, although the exact vessels filtering under zone 1 conditions have yet to be determined. Our analysis of the data supports the concept that there is a difference in the perimicrovascular pressure around alveolar and extra-alveolar vessels, which in part may account for the apparent high filtration fraction apportioned to extra-alveolar vessels.

Animals↗

Reduction in erythrocytic GSH level and stability in Plasmodium vivax malaria.

The existence of haemolytic anaemia in malaria indicates disturbances in red cell stability due to physical as well as metabolic stress attributable to the malarial parasite. As erythrocytic reduced glutathione (GSH) is involved in maintaining the integrity of red cells, the status of erythrocytic GSH was studied in 40 patients infected with Plasmodium vivax before and after therapy with chloroquine. 40 normal subjects, age- and sex-matched, were studied as controls. The level of erythrocytic GSH of malaria patients during infection and before therapy was significantly lower in comparison with controls (P less than 0.0005). Instability of GSH was recorded in 17 of 40 patients, while none of the controls showed such a defect. There was a progressive decrease in GSH level and stability of the host red cells with increasing parasitaemia. Normal values were obtained following therapy and cure of malaria indicating that the changes in GSH level and stability are induced by P. vivax. Alterations in the GSH metabolism may represent one of the factors contributing to the severity of anaemia in malaria due to P. vivax infection.

Adolescent↗

Micropuncture measurement of alveolar liquid pressure in excised dog lung lobes.

We have investigated the mechanism of alveolar liquid filling in pulmonary edema. We excised, degassed, and intrabronchially filled 14 dog lung lobes from nine dogs with 75, 150, 225, or 350 ml of 5% albumin solution, and then air inflated the lobes to a constant airway pressure of 25 cmH2O. By use of micropipettes, we punctured subpleural alveoli to measure alveolar liquid pressure by the servo-null technique. Alveolar liquid pressure was constant in all lobes despite differences in lobe liquid volume and averaged 10.6 +/- 1.3 cmH2O. Thus, in all lobes a constant pressure drop of 14.4 cmH2O existed from airway to alveolar liquid across the air-liquid interface. We attribute this finding, on the basis of the Laplace equation, to an air-liquid interface of constant radius in all the lobes. In fact, we calculated from the Laplace equation an air-liquid interface radius which equalled morphological estimates of alveolar radius. We conclude that in the steady state, alveoli that contained liquid have a constant radius of curvature of the air-liquid interface possibly because they are always completely liquid filled.

Animals↗

Sites of transendothelial liquid transport in lung microcirculation.

The widely held concept that the lung transmicrovascular liquid flux occurs primarily across septal vessels has not been experimentally verified. In fact, the recent literature suggests that much if not all of the flux may occur across extraseptal vessels. Support for this idea is available from morphological studies, from segmental filtration data, and from micropuncture data concerning lung microvascular and interstitial pressures. Recent split-drop measurements of lung venular hydraulic conductivity suggest that the surface area of filtration in the lung may be considerably smaller than presumed. The view is advanced that a major portion of lung filtration may occur in the preseptal microcirculation.

Animals↗

Stimulation of pulmonary vagal afferent C-fibers by lung edema in dogs.

In anesthetized, open-chest dogs we examined the effect of pulmonary edema on the firing frequency of afferent vagal fibers arising from the lung. We recorded impulses from slips of the cervical vagus nerves and infused isotonic Krebs-Henseleit solution (20% of body weight) intravenously to increase net filtration pressure in the lung microvasculature. Measurement of extravascular lung water (6.0 +/- 0.4 g/g dry lung), and morphological examination of lung tissue (revealing various degrees of perivascular and peribronchial cuffing) confirmed that edema was present. At the end of the infusion when the lungs were congested (lung microvascular pressure, 37 cm water) and edematous, the impulse frequency of pulmonary and bronchial C-fibers and rapidly adapting receptors had increased 5-6 times. The only significant change in slowly adapting receptor activity was an increase during deflation. When lung water was still elevated but lung microvascular pressure had been restored to control by withdrawal of blood, impulse activity of rapidly and slowly adapting receptors reverted to or below control. Pulmonary C-fiber activity, although less than during congestion, remained significantly above control, several C-fibers being stimulated by interstitial edema in the absence of alveolar edema. Bronchial C-fibers were stimulated in severely edematous lung showing pronounced peribronchial cuffing and alveolar edema, but were not stimulated in milder grades of edema. Our results support the hypothesis (Paintal, 1969) that pulmonary C-fibers (J-receptors) are stimulated by an increase in interstitial pressure secondary to edema.

Action Potentials↗

Long term follow up of newborns tested with the auditory response cradle.

The auditory response cradle is being used in a mass hearing screening project. Babies are assessed in the first week after birth by the fully automatic, microprocessor controlled cradle. The test, lasting from two to 10 minutes, compares physiological auditory responses to natural behaviour measured in control trials. More than 5000 babies have been tested and full follow up information at the age of 7 to 9 months is available from over two thirds of these. Less detailed information is available for 71% and 64% of those babies who have been followed up at 18 months and three years of age respectively. A total of 439 of 5553 neonates tested failed the first screening test. Eighty eight (1 X 6%) failed a second screening test while still in the maternity unit but 61 of these were subsequently shown to be normal, giving a false positive rate of 1 X 1%. The babies who failed the screening tests included 9 with sensorineural hearing loss, three with secretory otitis media, and three with abnormal auditory brain stem response tests. One child who passed the initial screening tests was found to have a moderately severe hearing loss at the age of 18 months.

Age Factors↗

Interstitial fluid pressure gradient measured by micropuncture in excised dog lung.

We have directly measured lung interstitial fluid pressure at sites of fluid filtration by micropuncturing excised left lower lobes of dog lung. We blood-perfused each lobe after cannulating its artery, vein, and bronchus to produce a desired amount of edema. Then, to stop further edema, we air-embolized the lobe. Holding the lobe at a constant airway pressure of 5 cmH2O, we measured interstitial fluid pressure using beveled glass micropipettes and the servo-null method. In 31 lobes, divided into 6 groups according to severity of edema, we micropunctured the subpleural interstitium in alveolar wall junctions, in adventitia around 50-micron venules, and in the hilum. In all groups an interstitial fluid pressure gradient existed from the junctions to the hilum. Junctional, adventitial, and hilar pressures, which were (relative to pleural pressure) 1.3 +/- 0.2, 0.3 +/- 0.5, and -1.8 +/- 0.2 cmH2O, respectively, in nonedematous lobes, rose with edema to plateau at 4.1 +/- 0.4, 2.0 +/- 0.2, and 0.4 +/- 0.3 cmH2O, respectively. We also measured junctional and adventitial pressures near the base and apex in each of 10 lobes. The pressures were identical, indicating no vertical interstitial fluid pressure gradient in uniformly expanded nonedematous lobes which lack a vertical pleural pressure gradient. In edematous lobes basal pressure exceeded apical but the pressure difference was entirely attributable to greater basal edema. We conclude that the presence of an alveolohilar gradient of lung interstitial fluid pressure, without a base-apex gradient, represents the mechanism for driving fluid flow from alveoli toward the hilum.

Animals↗

Micropuncture measurement of lung microvascular pressure profile during hypoxia in cats.

To determine the lung microvascular pressure profile during hypoxia, we micropunctured the subpleural microcirculation of isolated perfused cat lungs. Our procedures involved exsanguinating a cat, then cannulating its pulmonary artery, left atrium, and trachea. Using the cat's own blood, we perfused the lungs at pulmonary artery and left atrial pressures of 18 and 9 cm water, respectively, to obtain lung blood flow of 81 +/- 29 ml/(kg body weight x min), which we held constant throughout the experiment. We stabilized the lung surface with a vacuum ring and micropunctured 30- to 50-micrometers arterioles and venules to measure microvascular pressure by the servo-null method. During micropuncture, we held the lungs at constant inflation using airway pressure of 8 cm water. We varied the oxygen concentration of the inflation gas from 30% during baseline to 2% during hypoxia. We studied groups with high (more than 7.5) or normal pH. During normoxia, 27, 44, and 29% of the pressure drop occurred in the arterial, capillary and venous segments, respectively. During hypoxia, the increase in pulmonary vascular resistance, which was marked in both groups, was significantly greater in the normal pH group. All segmental pressure drops increased significantly during hypoxia. However, the predominant increase occurred in the arteries where segmental pressure drop increased by 148% and 210%, respectively, in the high and normal pH groups. We conclude that the major site of hypoxic vasoconstriction is in the pulmonary arteries.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

Concentrated albumin does not affect lung edema formation after acid instillation in the dog.

Recent investigations of the role of large infusions of concentrated serum albumin on the acute pulmonary edema caused by hydrochloric acid (HCl) aspiration have produced contradictory results. We used the open thorax anesthetized dog with weighed lung lobe as well as completely isolated perfused weighed lobes. The results were the same with both preparations. Instillation of 0.1 N HCl (2 ml/kg) caused small increases in pulmonary artery pressure, and the rate of lung weight gain increased from 1.2 to 2.5 g/h to 22.2 to 30.2 g/h. Addition of 25% human serum albumin, either before or after acid instillation, had no significant effect on the rate of lobe weight gain. Additional experiments showed that after HCl the rate of lobe weight gain was exquisitely sensitive to pulmonary arterial pressure. Albumin therapy is without benefit in the prevention or treatment of the pulmonary edema caused by HCl aspiration.

Animals↗