It has been suggested that coronary ischemia increases extravascular lung water. To determine whether pulmonary microvascular permeability is increased by coronary ischemia, we measured pulmonary hemodynamics, lung lymph flow (QL), and lymph-to-plasma protein concentration ratio (L/P) in 12 sheep with chronic lung lymph fistulas. Studies were done in 3 groups: in group 1 (n = 7) a marginal branch of the left circumflex artery (Lcx) was occluded, in group 2 (n = 5) left atrial pressure (Pla) was mechanically raised by 10 mmHg, and in group 3 (n = 5) Lcx was occluded and Pla was raised by 10 mmHg. In group 1, coronary occlusion increased QL (4.6 +/- 0.4 to 8.3 +/- 2.6 ml/h) without changes in L/P. In group 2, elevated Pla increased QL (5.1 +/- 1.2 to 10.1 +/- 3.0 ml/h) with decreases in L/P (0.71 +/- 0.02 to 0.61 +/- 0.02). In group 3, coronary occlusion with elevated Pla caused a further increase in QL (5.0 +/- 1.5 to 16.9 +/- 4.6 ml/h) without significant decreases in L/P (0.71 +/- 0.01 to 0.65 +/- 0.06). Lung lymph concentrations of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (a degradation product of prostacyclin) increased transiently after coronary occlusion. These results indicate that coronary occlusion can increase transcapillary protein transport in lungs of conscious sheep and simultaneously increase prostacyclin production in the lung.