Alveolar liquid pressure measured by micropipettes in isolated dog lung.

Micropipettes (2-5 microns), in conjunction with a servo-nulling system, were used to measure liquid pressure (Pliq) in subpleural alveoli of lobes of dog lungs made edematous by perfusing with plasma to a constant extravascular weight gain (W). Pliq was measured at fixed transpulmonary pressure (Ptp) in lungs whose W was more than 0.5 that of the initial weight (Wi). In six lobes at W/Wi = 0.6, Pliq, relative to alveolar pressure (Palv), was -2.6 +/- 0.4 cmH2O (mean +/- SE), -11.8 +/- 0.6, and -17.5 +/- 1.7 at deflation Ptp values of 5, 15, and 25 cmH2O, respectively. The Pliq increased to -2, -7, and -13.7, respectively, at W/Wi = 2.8. Based on a mean alveolar radius of 50 micron at Ptp at 25 cmH2O and values of Palv - Pliq, values for alveolar surface tension (tau) at W/Wi = 0.6 were 6, 30, and 44 dyn/cm at Ptp of 5, 15, and 25 cmH2O, respectively. In five other lobes at W/Wi = 0.5 and at 65 and 84% total lung capacity, tau was much higher on lung inflation than on deflation. If pericapillary interstitial fluid pressure (Pi) and Pliq were identical under edematous conditions, tau would be the main determinant of Pi.