H. Bachofen et al., DISTURBANCE OF ALVEOLAR LINING LAYER - EFFECTS ON ALVEOLAR MICROSTRUCTURE, Journal of applied physiology, 76(5), 1994, pp. 1983-1992
To further study the influence of altered surface tensions on alveolar
micromechanics, we analyzed the structure-function relationships in e
xcised rabbit lungs filled with or rinsed by a fluorocarbon (similar t
o 15 mN/m) or by hexadecane (similar to 25 mN/m). The lungs were fixed
and dehydrated by vascular perfusion, and the tissue samples were ana
lyzed by light, transmission, and scanning electron microscopy. We mad
e three observations. 1) Pressure-volume (P-V) loops of hexadecane-fil
led lungs are shifted to the left and coincide with those of saline-fi
lled lungs, indicating near-zero interfacial tension. In accordance, t
he alveolar microstructure and surface area of hexadecane-filled lungs
resemble those of saline-filled lungs. 2) The P-V loops of fluorocarb
on-filled lungs are not shifted to the left but coincide with those of
fluorocarbon-rinsed lungs. Under both conditions, the alveolar micros
tructure is qualitatively identical and the alveolar surface areas are
markedly reduced compared with normal air-filled lungs. These finding
s show that fluorocarbon-filled or fluorocarbon-rinsed lungs are subje
cted to similar interfacial tensions at the alveolar level. 3) Hexadec
ane-rinsed lungs show a pear-shaped P-V curve and a complex surface te
xture of peripheral air spaces. These results, together with in vitro
observations, suggest a metamorphic interplay between lung surfactant
and hexadecane in lining the surface and determining the surface tensi
on. Evidently, the effects of foreign liquids introduced into the lung
on the structure-function relationship cannot accurately be predicted
from their in vitro surface tensions. This fact should be considered
in the development of artificial surfactants.