Thermoelastic properties of uniaxially deformed lung strips.

We examined the temperature dependence of small degassed hamster lung strip mechanics to develop insights into the molecular basis of lung elasticity. Quasi-static length-tension curves of adapted lung strips were generated at 10, 23, 37, 50, and 80 degrees C; quasi-static tension-temperature plots (QSTT) at strains of 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 were then formulated. Static tension-temperature (STT) plots at strain 1 were independently generated from other strips. Stress relaxation was evaluated as a function of temperature at different strains; hysteresis ratio was calculated as a parameter of mechanical efficiency. Between 23 and 37 degrees C, the slopes of the QSTT plots at the different strains were close to zero. The slope of the STT plot was slightly positive, indicating that the tension developed by a stretched strip was primarily due to entropic changes with length, suggesting that strips behave like rubber polymers near physiological temperature. Between 10 and 23 degrees C, the slope of the QSTT curve was zero at the two lowest strains but was negative at strain 1; and slope of the STT curve was zero at strain 1. These data indicated that collagen fiber and possibly glycosaminoglycan function was abnormally affected at 10 degrees C. Between 50 and 80 degrees C at strain 1, the slopes of both the QSTT and STT plots at all strains were positive. These data suggested that elastic fiber function was altered between 50 and 80 degrees C such that both internal energetic and entropic contributions to the tension were changed. Stress relaxation and hysteresis data were consistent with these findings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)