The vascular pulmonary pressure-flow (P-Q degree) relationships were studied in anesthetized dogs in order to characterize the distribution of total resistance in the pulmonary bed with respect to incremental resistance and critical closure prior to and after endotoxin insult. Incremental resistance was computed as the slope of the P-Q degree relation, whereas critical closure was referred to as the extrapolated pressure intercept at zero flow. P-Q degree coordinates were obtained by varying Q degree through graded inflation of right atrial balloon. The gradients across the arterial segment (Pa = Ppa - Pc) and across the venous segment (Pv = Pc - Pw) of the pulmonary vasculature were defined by the computation of effective capillary pressure (Pc) obtained from the analysis of the transient decay of pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa) toward wedge pressure (Pw) after arterial occlusion. Six group E dogs were infused with endotoxin at a rate of 0.25 microgram/kg min, while six additional animals served as control (group C). Endotoxin induced increases in flow resistance from 0.056 to 0.096 mm Hg/ml/min/kg due to arterial vasoconstriction and increases in critical closure from 2.3 to 8.4 mm Hg due to a venous waterfall. Before and after endotoxin insult, we assessed effects of each of three levels of static lung inflation (PEEP) on P-Q degree relationships.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)