Size of pores of Kohn: influence of transpulmonary and vascular pressures. 1981

R W Mazzone, and S Kornblau

We investigated the influence of transpulmonary (Ptp) and vascular pressures on the size of the pores of Kohn in primary alveolar septa. Dogs lungs, perfused and ventilated in situ, were rapidly frozen with Freon 22 in zone II or III conditions following deflation to Ptp of 5, 15, or 25 cmH2O. Frozen samples were freeze-substituted for transmission electron microscopy. Five fields containing at least one pore each were selected randomly from each section of tissue, and the minimum diameter visible in the cut section was measured. For both zone II and III conditions, as Ptp increased, mean pore size increased. The mean pore size under zone III conditions was 1.2015, 1.788, and 2.249 micrometer for Ptp of 5, 15, and 25 cmH2O, respectively. For zone 2 conditions, the corresponding values were 1.1438, 1,8757, and 2.08 micrometer. For both zones II and III, increasing capillary hydrostatic pressure had no significant effect on pore size. The results support the notion that alveolar pores can increase collateral ventilation by dynamically stretching as Ptp increases. Capillary pressure does not influence pore size probably because of collagen fibers, which surround the pore lumen. Presumably, these fibers resist encroachment of capillaries on the pore lumen as vascular pressures increase.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008168 Lung Either of the pair of organs occupying the cavity of the thorax that effect the aeration of the blood. Lungs
D008176 Lung Volume Measurements Measurement of the amount of air that the lungs may contain at various points in the respiratory cycle. Lung Capacities,Lung Volumes,Capacity, Lung,Lung Capacity,Lung Volume,Lung Volume Measurement,Measurement, Lung Volume,Volume, Lung
D008855 Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Microscopy in which the object is examined directly by an electron beam scanning the specimen point-by-point. The image is constructed by detecting the products of specimen interactions that are projected above the plane of the sample, such as backscattered electrons. Although SCANNING TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY also scans the specimen point by point with the electron beam, the image is constructed by detecting the electrons, or their interaction products that are transmitted through the sample plane, so that is a form of TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY. Scanning Electron Microscopy,Electron Scanning Microscopy,Electron Microscopies, Scanning,Electron Microscopy, Scanning,Electron Scanning Microscopies,Microscopies, Electron Scanning,Microscopies, Scanning Electron,Microscopy, Electron Scanning,Microscopy, Scanning Electron,Scanning Electron Microscopies,Scanning Microscopies, Electron,Scanning Microscopy, Electron
D011312 Pressure A type of stress exerted uniformly in all directions. Its measure is the force exerted per unit area. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed) Pressures
D011650 Pulmonary Alveoli Small polyhedral outpouchings along the walls of the alveolar sacs, alveolar ducts and terminal bronchioles through the walls of which gas exchange between alveolar air and pulmonary capillary blood takes place. Alveoli, Pulmonary,Alveolus, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Alveolus
D011663 Pulmonary Surfactants Substances and drugs that lower the SURFACE TENSION of the mucoid layer lining the PULMONARY ALVEOLI. Surfactants, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Surfactant,Surfactant, Pulmonary
D012044 Regression Analysis Procedures for finding the mathematical function which best describes the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. In linear regression (see LINEAR MODELS) the relationship is constrained to be a straight line and LEAST-SQUARES ANALYSIS is used to determine the best fit. In logistic regression (see LOGISTIC MODELS) the dependent variable is qualitative rather than continuously variable and LIKELIHOOD FUNCTIONS are used to find the best relationship. In multiple regression, the dependent variable is considered to depend on more than a single independent variable. Regression Diagnostics,Statistical Regression,Analysis, Regression,Analyses, Regression,Diagnostics, Regression,Regression Analyses,Regression, Statistical,Regressions, Statistical,Statistical Regressions
D012123 Pulmonary Ventilation The total volume of gas inspired or expired per unit of time, usually measured in liters per minute. Respiratory Airflow,Ventilation Tests,Ventilation, Pulmonary,Expiratory Airflow,Airflow, Expiratory,Airflow, Respiratory,Test, Ventilation,Tests, Ventilation,Ventilation Test
D001794 Blood Pressure PRESSURE of the BLOOD on the ARTERIES and other BLOOD VESSELS. Systolic Pressure,Diastolic Pressure,Pulse Pressure,Pressure, Blood,Pressure, Diastolic,Pressure, Pulse,Pressure, Systolic,Pressures, Systolic
D004285 Dogs The domestic dog, Canis familiaris, comprising about 400 breeds, of the carnivore family CANIDAE. They are worldwide in distribution and live in association with people. (Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed, p1065) Canis familiaris,Dog

Related Publications

R W Mazzone, and S Kornblau
February 1991, Journal of biomechanical engineering,
R W Mazzone, and S Kornblau
July 1972, Thorax,
R W Mazzone, and S Kornblau
January 2014, Asian cardiovascular & thoracic annals,
R W Mazzone, and S Kornblau
July 1977, Journal of applied physiology: respiratory, environmental and exercise physiology,
R W Mazzone, and S Kornblau
January 2022, MethodsX,
R W Mazzone, and S Kornblau
January 1983, Bulletin europeen de physiopathologie respiratoire,
R W Mazzone, and S Kornblau
May 1970, Journal of applied physiology,
R W Mazzone, and S Kornblau
January 1978, Laboratory investigation; a journal of technical methods and pathology,
R W Mazzone, and S Kornblau
May 2006, Critical care medicine,
Copied contents to your clipboard!