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Sepsis disturbs alveolar perfusion distribution in rat lungs
Author(s) -
Conhaim Robert L.,
Watson Kal A.,
Spiegel Carol A.,
Dovi William F.,
Harms Bruce A.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a744-d
Subject(s) - perfusion , sepsis , lung , pathology , medicine , distribution (mathematics) , ards , mathematical analysis , mathematics
Intra‐abdominal sepsis causes pulmonary neutrophil accumulation and ARDS, but its effects on inter‐alveolar perfusion distribution are unknown. To investigate this, we induced sepsis by instilling live bacteria ( E.coli, B. fragilis ) into the abdomens of rats. Twentyfour hours later we infused 4 μm diameter fluorescent latex particles (2x10 8 ) into the pulmonary circulation via a peripheral vein. We then removed and air‐dried the lungs. We used dispersion index analysis (DI) to quantify latex particle distributions in confocal microscopic images of each lung (2x10 5 alveoli & 3x10 3 particles per image). The greater the value of logDI, the more the perfusion distribution is disordered.LogDI in septic lungs averaged 1.33±0.04 (n = 2). LogDI in control lungs averaged 0.53±0.04 (n=4) (P = 0.005). We conclude that intra‐abdominal sepsis causes significant mal‐distribution of inter‐alveolar perfusion. Supported by VA Merit Review.