Influence of endothelial volume on kinetics of reacting indicators in the lung.

The purpose of this work is to show mathematically the relationship between the classical maximum velocity of reaction, Vmax, for enzyme kinetics and an analogous parameter, Vmax, derived by Linehan and Dawson (J. Appl. Physiol.: Respirat. Environ. Exercise Physiol. 47:404-411, 1979) for the analysis of tracers which disappear by saturation kinetics from the lung circulation during the passage of indicators after bolus injection. Rederivation of the original equation for the combination of flow and reaction in a capillary showed that Vmax is equal to the product of enzyme Vmax and the volume of endothelium, Ve, in which the enzyme resides. This implies that Vmax interpreted from multiple-indicator curves in the lung by the Linehan-Dawson method is a combination of an enzyme characteristic Vmax and a measure of functioning capillary surface during passage, Ve. Lung injury could change Vmax, functioning surface (Ve), or both.