The importance of flow pulsatility for the rate of transvascular fluid filtration in lungs.

1. The rate of transvascular fluid filtration has been studied with a gravimetric technique in isolated perfused rabbit lungs during periods of elevated left atrial pressure (PLA). 2. Fluid filtration was expressed as the filtration coefficient, Kf (g/min x 100 g bloodless lung x mmHg PLA) and determined during alternately pulsatile and non-pulsatile perfusion in six zone III and three zone II/I lung preparations. Perfusion pattern was changed without interruption of flow. Mean in- and outflow pressures were kept constant. 3. In all the lungs it was found that Kf was higher during pulsatile than during non-pulsatile flow (P less than 0.01). Mean Kf (+/- S.E. of mean) for the zone III preparations was 0.42 (+/- 0.089) and 0.27 (+/- 0.057) for pulsatile and non-pulsatile perfusion, respectively. The corresponding figures for the zone II/I preparations were 0.11 (+/- 0.035) and 0.04 (+/- 0.030). 4. We suggest that the difference is due to a larger filtration area and/or a higher mean microvascular hydrostatic pressure during pulsatile than during non-pulsatile flow and not to a rise in hydraulic conductivity due to pressure pulsations ('stretched pores'). 5. When the water-exchange function of the lung is considered, flow pattern should be taken into account as an entity in its own right in addition to the steady state or the mean component of blood flow.