Albumin and Cr-EDTA uptake by systemic arteries, veins, and pulmonary artery of rabbit.

Experiments have been performed both in vivo and in vitro to measure the steady-state uptake of labeled albumin and Cr-ethylenediaminetetraacetate by various blood vessels of the rabbit: the ascending and descending portions of the thoracic aorta, the carotid artery, the pulmonary artery, and the inferior vena cava. The in vitro experiments indicated that the wall tissues of the pulmonary artery and the vena cava have much greater distribution volumes for albumin than do the systemic arteries. This may in part explain the differences in wall tissue concentrations in vivo and, in turn, the differences between vessels in their susceptibility to atherosclerosis.