Distensibility and pressure-flow relationship of the pulmonary circulation. I. Single-vessel model.

To ascertain the relative contributions of vascular distensibility and nonhomogeneous behavior within the pulmonary circulation to the distinctive nonlinear relationship between inflow pressure (Pin) and flow [pressure-flow (P-F) relationship] and between Pin and outflow pressure (Pout) at constant flow (Pin-Pout relationship), we developed a multibranched model in which the elastic behavior of, and forces acting on, individual branches can be varied independently. The response of the multibranched model is described in the companion article (J. Appl. Physiol. 68: 1514-1527, 1990). Here we describe the methods used and the responses of single components of the larger model. Perivascular pressure is modeled as a function of intravascular and transpulmonary pressures (Pv and Ptp, respectively) and vessel length as a function of lung volume. These and the relationship between vascular area (A) and transmural pressure (Ptm) were modeled primarily from the dog data of Smith and Mitzner (J. Appl. Physiol. 48: 450-467, 1980). Vasomotor tone is modeled as a radial collapsing pressure (Pt) in the same plane as Ptm. In view of lack of information about the relationship between Pt and A for a given active state, different patterns were assumed that span a wide range of possible relationships. The P-F and Pin-Pout relationships of single vessels were very similar to those reported for the entire intact circulation. Of note, the slope of the Pin-Pout relationship in the low Pout range (0-5 Torr) was very low (less than 0.25) and increased gradually with Pout toward unity. Vasomotor tone caused an apparent parallel shift in the P-F relationship in the physiological flow range of the dog (2-8 l/min) regardless of the pattern used to model the Pt vs. A relationship; different patterns affected the P-F relationship only over the low flow range before the parallel shift was established.