Effect of vibration on isolated dog bronchi.

Vibratory stress, induced by turbulent flow, has been shown to alter the structural properties in arteries. Since turbulent flow can exist in the lungs it seems important to know whether a similar effect can occur in bronchi. To answer that question air was passed through isolated dog bronchi. Turbulent flow was created by having, at one end, a cannula acting as a stenosis, producing vibrations or a "flitter" in the wall. A measure of the elastic properties was obtained by coupling pressure-volume data with photographs taken at different pressures. The results demonstrate a significant alteration in the structural properties, localized to ares under maximum vibration. A "yielding" in the direction of maximum stress was observed with a corresponding structural rearrangement (radius decreased, length increased). This effect and its relation to structural fatigue is discussed. The physiological significance of the results are that the bronchi become more resistant to deformation under positive pressures and less resistant to collapse under negative pressures.