Determinants of transvascular fluid shifts in zone I lungs.

We studied the fluid shifts in isolated, plasma-perfused rabbit lungs kept completely within zone I. The rate of fluid filtration or reabsorption was determined gravimetrically. A rise in alveolar pressure at constant pleural and vascular pressures reduced th rate of filtration or increased the rate of reabsorption in seven of eight lungs. In seven of seven lungs a reduction in pleural pressure at constant alveolar and vascular pressures increased the rate of filtration or decreased the rate of reabsorption. Thus, a given rise in lung volume had opposite effects depending on whether this rise was caused by an increased alveolar or reduced pleural pressure. Therefore, the exchange vessels studied cannot be true extra-alveolar vessels, which always expand (reflecting a rise in transmural pressure) with a rise in lung volume. When alveolar and pleural pressures were equally increased at constant vascular pressure, the rate of filtration was reduced in four of four lungs. The results can be explained through the existence of exchange vessels situated neither in the alveolar septae proper nor among the true extra-alveolar vessels. The vessels in the alveolar junctions are the most likely candidates.