Increase In Qlym Research Articles

Vascular perfusion limits mesenteric lymph flow during anaphylactic hypotension in rats

To determine fluid extravasation in the splanchnic vascular bed during anaphylactic hypotension, the mesenteric lymph flow (Q(lym)) was measured in anesthetized rats sensitized with ovalbumin, along with the systemic arterial pressure (P(sa)) and portal venous pressure (P(pv)). When the antigen was injected into the sensitized rats (n = 10), P(sa) decreased from 125 ± 4 to 37 ± 2 mmHg at 10 min with a gradual recovery, whereas P(pv) increased by 16 mmHg at 2 min and returned to the baseline at 10 min. Q(lym) increased 3.3-fold from the baseline of 0.023 ± 0.002 g/min to the peak levels of 0.075 ± 0.009 g/min at 2 min and returned to the baseline within 12 min. The lymph protein concentrations increased after antigen, a finding indicating increased vascular permeability. To determine the role of the P(pv) increase in the antigen-induced increase in Q(lym), P(pv) of the nonsensitized rats (n = 10) was mechanically elevated in a manner similar to that of the sensitized rats by compressing the portal vein near the hepatic hilus. Unexpectedly, P(pv) elevation alone produced a similar increase in Q(lym), with the peak comparable to that of the sensitized rats. This finding aroused a question why the antigen-induced increase in Q(lym) was limited despite the presence of increased vascular permeability. Thus the changes in splanchnic vascular surface area were assessed by measuring the mesenteric arterial flow. The mesenteric arterial flow was decreased much more in the sensitized rats (75%; n = 5) than the nonsensitized P(pv) elevated rats (50%; n = 5). In conclusion, mesenteric lymph flow increases transiently after antigen presumably due to increased capillary pressure of the splanchnic vascular bed via downstream P(pv) elevation and perfusion and increased vascular permeability in anesthetized rats. However, this increased extravasation is subsequently limited by decreases in vascular surface area and filtration pressure.

Role of Platelet-activating Factor in Mediating Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha-induced Pulmonary Vasoconstriction and Plasma-Lymph Protein Transport

We assessed the role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in mediating the pulmonary hemodynamic and lymph flow responses to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha). The effects of the PAF receptor antagonist WEB 2086 on TNF alpha-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction and increased pulmonary transvascular plasma-lymph protein transport were examined. Control (n = 7) and WEB-2086-pretreated (n = 7) sheep prepared with chronic lung lymph fistulas were challenged with recombinant human TNF alpha (12 micrograms/kg over 0.5 h). Ex vivo challenge of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) with 10(-8) M PAF resulted in aggregation of platelets from control TNF-challenged sheep, but not of platelets from WEB-treated sheep similarly challenged with TNF. The control TNF-alpha-challenged sheep developed hemoconcentration, leukopenia, and neutropenia. TNF alpha resulted in increases in pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) within 15 min, and the values were sustained for the 5-h experiment duration. Pulmonary lymph flow (Qlym) and pulmonary transvascular protein clearance rate (Qlym x lymph-to-plasma protein concentration) were increased within 30 min and remained elevated for 5 h. The WEB-2086-treated sheep developed similar leukopenia and neutropenia after TNF alpha challenge, but the initial increases in Ppa and PVR were significantly reduced (p less than 0.05). However, WEB 2086 did not prevent the threefold increases in Qlym and transvascular protein clearance induced with TNF alpha.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of hypobaria on lung fluid balance in awake sheep.

Effects of hypobaria on lung fluid balance were studied in five awake sheep with chronic lung lymph fistulas using a decompression chamber. Each sheep was exposed to three conditions of 6,600-m-simulated high altitude in random order as follows: 1) 6,600-m-simulated hypoxic hypobaria (barometric pressure 326 Torr, 21% inspired O2 fraction), 2) 6,600-m-simulated normoxic hypobaria (barometric pressure 326 Torr, 65% inspired O2 fraction), and 3) 6,600-m-simulated normoxic hypobaria (barometric pressure 326 Torr, 65% inspired O2 fraction) after pretreatment with a 2-h pure O2 inhalation (i.e., denitrogenation) to allow elimination of dissolved gases, especially N2, from the blood and tissues. We observed that under both hypoxic hypobaria and normoxic hypobaria, lung lymph flow (Qlym) significantly increased from the base-line values of 6.4 +/- 0.3 to 13.0 +/- 1.0 ml/h and 6.0 +/- 0.2 to 9.4 +/- 0.3 ml/h, respectively (P less than 0.05) and that the lymph-to-plasma protein concentration ratio remained unchanged. Moreover, pretreatment with a 2-h denitrogenation inhibited the increase in Qlym. These results suggest that rapid exposure to hypobaria causes an increase in pulmonary vascular permeability and that intravascular air bubble formation may account for this permeability change.

Platelet-activating factor increases lung vascular permeability to protein.

We studied the effects of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on pulmonary hemodynamics and microvascular permeability in unanesthetized sheep prepared with lung-lymph fistulas. Since cyclooxygenase metabolites have been implicated in mediating these responses, we also examined the role of the cyclooxygenase pathway. PAF infusion (4 micrograms X kg-1 X h-1 for 3 h) produced a rapid, transient rise in pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), plasma thromboxane B2 concentration (TxB2), and pulmonary lymph flow (Qlym). The lymph-to-plasma protein concentration ratio (L/P) did not change from base line. Pretreatment with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, sodium meclofenamate, prevented the generation of TxB2 and the hemodynamic changes but did not prevent the increase in Qlym. The estimated protein reflection coefficient decreased from a control value of 0.66 +/- 0.04 to 0.43 +/- 0.06 after PAF infusion. We also studied the effects of PAF on endothelial permeability in vitro by measuring the flux of 125I-albumin across cultured bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (EC) grown to confluency on a gelatinized micropore filter and mounted within a modified Boyden chemotaxis chamber. PAF (10(-8) to 10(-4) M) had no direct effect on EC albumin permeability, suggesting that the increase in permeability in sheep was not the direct lytic effect of PAF. In conclusion, PAF produces pulmonary vasoconstriction mediated by cyclooxygenase metabolites. PAF also increases pulmonary vascular permeability to protein that is independent of cyclooxygenase products and is not the result of a direct effect of PAF on the endothelium.

Pulmonary hemodynamic effects of antisheep serum-induced leukopenia.

Antisheep antileukocyte serum (ALS) was produced in rabbits, purified, and adsorbed against erythrocytes and platelets. The ALS was infused intra-arterially over a 3-hour period into anesthetized sheep (n = 6) prepared with lung lymph fistulas. Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and pulmonary lymph flow (Qlym) increased two- to threefold while the lymph-to-plasma protein concentration ratio (L/P) did not change from baseline, suggesting an increase in pulmonary vascular permeability to proteins. The arterial leukocyte count decreased from 4,935 +/- 840 to 1,385 +/- 325 cells/microliters, the neutrophil count decreased from 1,045 +/- 265 to 340 +/- 130 cells/microliters, and the platelet count decreased from 2.8 X 10(5) +/- 0.2 X 10(5) to 0.65 X 10(5) +/- 0.12 X 10(5) cells/microliters. ALS induced neutrophil aggregation in vitro, but not platelet aggregation. In the present study, we also examined the effects of ALS-induced leukopenia on the increase in pulmonary vascular permeability after intravenous alpha-thrombin challenge to assess the role of leukocytes in mediating the increased permeability response. Sheep (n = 5) were made leukopenic by an intramuscular injection of ALS; Qlym was in the normal range 4 to 5 hours after the ALS administration. In the leukopenic group, thrombin challenge caused an increase in Qlym from 7.8 +/- 0.7 to 12.9 +/- 1.9 ml/hr (a 64% increase) while L/P decreased from 0.86 +/- 0.04 to 0.70 +/- 0.05 (a 19% decrease). In contrast, thrombin-induced intravascular coagulation in control sheep (n = 5) produced a 250% increase in Qlym with an increase in L/P. The results indicate that leukocytes are required for the increase in lung vascular permeability after thrombin-induced intravascular coagulation.

Pulmonary vascular response to leukotriene D4 in unanesthetized sheep: role of thromboxane.

We examined the pulmonary vascular response to an intravenous leukotriene D4 (LTD4) injection of (1 microgram X kg-1 X min-1 for 2 min) immediately followed by infusion of 0.133 microgram X kg-1 X min-1 for 15 min in awake sheep prepared with lung lymph fistulas. LTD4 resulted in rapid generation of thromboxane A2 as measured by an increase in plasma thromboxane B2 concentration. The thromboxane B2 generation was associated with increases in pulmonary arterial and pulmonary arterial wedge pressures while left atrial pressure did not change significantly. Pulmonary lymph flow (Qlym) increased (P less than 0.05) transiently from base line 6.87 +/- 1.88 (SE) ml/h to maximum value of 9.77 +/- 1.27 at 15 min following the LTD4 infusion. The maximum increase in Qlym was associated with an increase in the estimated pulmonary capillary pressure. The increase in Qlym was not associated with a change in the lymph-to-plasma protein concentration (L/P) ratio. Thromboxane synthetase inhibition with dazoxiben (an imidazole derivative) prevented thromboxane B2 generation after LTD4 and also prevented the increases in pulmonary vascular pressures and Qlym. We conclude that LTD4 in awake sheep increases resistance of large pulmonary veins. The small transient increase in Qlym can be explained by the increase in pulmonary capillary pressure. Thromboxane appears to mediate both the pulmonary hemodynamic and lymph responses to LTD4 in sheep.

Effect of prostacyclin on pulmonary vascular response to thrombin in awake sheep.

We determined the effects of infusion of prostacyclin (PGI2) and 6-alpha-carba-PGI2 (6-cPGI2), a stable PGI2 analogue, on pulmonary transvascular fluid and protein fluxes after intravascular coagulation induced by thrombin. Studies were made in control awake sheep prepared with lung lymph fistulas (n = 6) and in similarly prepared awake sheep pretreated with either 6-cPGI2 (n = 5) or PGI2 (n = 5). Both prostacyclin compounds (500 ng X kg-1 X min-1) were infused intravenously. All groups were challenged with 80 U/kg thrombin. Pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), pulmonary lymph flow (Qlym), lymph protein clearance (Qlym X lymph/plasma protein concentration ratio), and neutrophil and platelet counts were determined. In vitro tests assessed sheep neutrophil chemotaxis and chemiluminescence and platelet aggregation. In both 6-cPGI2 and PGI2 groups, the increases in Qlym after thrombin were less than those in the control group. The increase in lymph protein clearance in the 6-cPGI2 group was the same as that in control, whereas the increase in clearance in the PGI2 group was reduced. PVR and Ppa increased to a greater extent in the 6-cPGI2 group than in the control group, whereas the increases in PVR and Ppa were inhibited in the PGI2 group. Neutrophil and platelet counts decreased after thrombin in PGI2 and 6-cPGI2 groups, as they did in the control group. Neither 6-cPGI2 altered neutrophil chemotaxis induced by thrombin and chemiluminescence induced by opsonized zymosan. Both prostacyclin compounds inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP or thrombin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Thrombin-induced alterations in lung fluid balance in awake sheep.

We examined the effect of fibrinolysis depression on thrombin-induced pulmonary microembolism in awake sheep prepared with chronic lung lymph fistulas. Fibrinolysis was depressed by an intravenous infusion (100 mg) of tranexamic acid [trans-4-(Aminomethyl)cyclohexanecarboxylic acid]. Pulmonary microembolism was induced by an intravenous infusion of alpha-thrombin (80 NIH U/kg) in normal (n = 7) and in tranexamic acid-treated (n = 6) sheep. Thrombin immediately increased pulmonary lymph flow (Qlym) in both groups. The increased Qlym was not associated with a change in the lymph-to-plasma protein concentration (L/P) ratio in the control group and with a small decrease in the tranexamic acid-treated group. The increases in Qlym and pulmonary transvascular protein clearance (Qlym X L/P ratio) in the tranexamic acid-treated group were greater and sustained at four- to fivefold above base line for 10 h after the thrombin and remained elevated at twofold above base line even at 24 h. In contrast, Qlym and protein clearance were transiently increased in the control group. The mean pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) increased after thrombin in tranexamic acid-treated group; the increases in Ppa and PVR in the control group were transient. Protein reflection coefficient as determined by the filtration independent method decreased after thrombin in tranexamic acid-treated sheep (n = 5), indicating an increased vascular permeability to proteins. We conclude that prolongation of microthrombi retention in the pulmonary circulation results in an increased vascular permeability to proteins. Both increased vascular permeability and vascular hydrostatic pressure are important determinants of the increases in Qlym and transvascular protein clearance after thrombin-induced pulmonary microembolism.

Effect of complement depletion on lung fluid balance after thrombin.

We examined the effect of complement depletion on lung fluid and protein exchange after thrombin-induced pulmonary thromboembolization. Sheep were prepared with lung lymph fistulas to assess pulmonary transvascular fluid and protein dynamics. Studies were made in three groups: in group I (n = 5) pulmonary thromboembolization (PT) was induced by an iv infusion of thrombin (55.0 +/- 12.9 NIH U/kg); in group II (n = 6) cobra venom factor (CVF) was given ip (94.5 +/- 18.8 U/kg/day) for 2 days to deplete complement, and then thrombin (66.4 +/- 37.0 NIH U/kg) was infused to raise pulmonary vascular resistance to the same level as in group I; in group III (n = 10) left atrial pressure (Pla) was increased by 10-15 Torr in normal animals by inflation of a Foley balloon catheter. In group I, thrombin infusion caused an increase in pulmonary lymph flow (Qlym) with a gradual increase in the lymph-to-plasma protein concentration ratio (L/P). In complement-depleted sheep, thrombin caused a transient increase in Qlym, which was associated with a decrease in L/P. In group I an increase in Pla further increased Qlym but without a change in L/P, indicating an increase in lung vascular permeability to proteins; whereas in the decomplemented-thrombin sheep raising Pla increased Qlym but decreased L/P. Results in the latter group were similar to those obtained in normal animals after left atrial hypertension (group III). Therefore the complement system participates in the increase in lung vascular permeability following thrombin-induced microembolization.

Effects of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibition on lung fluid balance after thrombin.

We examined the roles of the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways in the alterations in lung fluid and protein exchange after pulmonary microembolism. Infusion of alpha-thrombin (T) (55 +/- 13 U/kg) immediately increased mean pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) and mean pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), but both Ppa and PVR waned with time after T. Cyclooxygenase inhibition with either indomethacin or ketoprofen produced sustained increases in Ppa and PVR. The initial increases in Ppa in the cyclooxygenase-inhibited groups (CI) were matched to the control group by administering greater amounts of T. In the control group, T rapidly increased pulmonary lymph flow (Qlym) by two- to threefold, and this was associated with a steady increase in lymph-to-plasma protein concentration ratio (L/P). In contrast, in cyclooxygenase-inhibited (CI) groups, Qlym increased gradually to greater levels than in the control group, and L/P did not change. The effect on lung vascular permeability was determined by inflating a left atrial balloon catheter to raise pulmonary capillary pressure (Pc). An increase in Pc after T in the control group further increased Qlym and did not change L/P, whereas the increase in Pc after T in CI groups further increased Qlym and decreased L/P, indicating that cyclooxygenase inhibition prevented the increase in permeability. We determined whether lipoxygenase activation contributed to the increase in Qlym in CI groups by examining the effects of BW755C, an inhibitor of both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways. BW755C resulted in the same increase in Qlym after T as in the control group, but the increase in Qlym was associated with a decrease in L/P. Therefore, inhibition of both pathways prevented the permeability increase and the greater increase in Qlym. The results indicate that cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways contribute to the increases in pulmonary transvascular fluid and protein fluxes after thrombin.

Thromboxane generation after thrombin. Protective effect of thromboxane synthetase inhibition on lung fluid balance.

We examined the role of thromboxane in mediating the alterations in pulmonary hemodynamics and in lung fluid and protein exchange after thrombin. Studies were made in control sheep and in sheep pretreated with the thromboxane synthetase inhibitor, Dazoxiben (injection of 10 mg/kg followed by infusion of 4 mg/kg per hr). Thrombin infusion caused an increase in mixed venous and aortic concentrations of thromboxane B2, a stable degradation product of thromboxane A2, whereas the concentrations of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, a degradation product of prostacyclin, did not change significantly. In sheep pretreated with Dazoxiben, thromboxane B2 concentrations did not increase, indicating effectiveness of the thromboxane synthetase inhibitor. The blood concentrations of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha after thrombin increased in the thromboxane synthetase-inhibited group, indicating shunting towards prostacyclin synthesis. Thrombin in untreated sheep increased pulmonary lymph flow (Qlym) and the lymph protein clearance (Qlym X lymph-to-plasma protein concentration ratio). The increases in lymph parameters were due to an increase in pulmonary vascular permeability to proteins because raising left atrial pressure further increased Qlym but did not change lymph-to-plasma ratio. Dazoxiben prevented the thrombin-induced increase in pulmonary vascular permeability because the increase in left atrial pressure resulted in an increase in Qlym and a decrease in lymph-to-plasma ratio, as was the case after left atrial hypertension in normal animals. Therefore, thrombin results in selective release of thromboxane A2 which precedes the increase in pulmonary vascular permeability. Thromboxane A2 may contribute to the increased permeability after thrombin, since inhibition of thromboxane synthesis prevents the permeability change.

Granulocytes mediate the increase in pulmonary vascular permeability after thrombin embolism.

We examined the effect of pulmonary embolization with microthrombi on the lung vascular permeability to proteins and the role of platelets and granulocytes as putative cellular factors in mediating the alterations in permeability. Anesthetized artificially ventilated sheep were prepared with lung lymph fistulas. Pulmonary embolization was induced using thrombin. Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was increased approximately threefold from baseline. Pulmonary lymph flow (Qlym) increased 2 h after thrombin, but the lymph-to-plasma protein ratio (L/P) did not change significantly from base line. Raising the pulmonary capillary pressure (Pc) by inflating a left atrial balloon produced a large increase in Qlym but no change in L/P, indicating a permeability-increasing effect of thrombin. Reduction of platelet count with antiplatelet serum before thrombin also produced an increase in Qlym without a change in L/P. Raising Pc in this group resulted in changes comparable with those in the control group, i.e., increased Qlym without a change in L/P. In contrast to both control and platelet-depleted groups, reduction of the granulocyte count with hydroxyurea did not affect Qlym or L/P after thrombin. Raising Pc in this group increased Qlym but decreased L/P, indicating normal capillary sieving of proteins. Therefore embolization of pulmonary vessels with microthrombi increases pulmonary vascular permeability, and the increase is mediated by granulocytes.

Effects of transient intracranial hypertension on lung fluid and protein exchange.

We determined whether a transient increase in intracranial pressure (Pic) increases lung vascular permeability and whether the increase occurs at a Pic threshold. Anesthetized sheep were prepared with lung lymph fistulas. Pic was increased by rapidly injecting 20-45 ml of freshly drawn autologous blood into the cisterna magna from a base line of 4.8 +/- 1.5 Torr to a peak mean value of either 142.0 +/- 17.6 Torr (group I, n = 5) or 70.3 +/- 3.5 Torr (group II, n = 5). Pic decreased to 34.6 +/- 2.2 Torr in group I and to 31.0 +/- 3.2 Torr in group II within 1 h and remained steady at these levels for the study. The Cushing response (i.e., marked systemic hypertension lasting 10-15 min) was elicited only in group I; changes in mean pulmonary arterial (Ppa) and mean pulmonary arterial wedge (Ppw) pressures during the first 15 min were small, pulmonary blood flow (QL) increased, and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) decreased only in the first 15 min after the intracisternal injection. In group II, Ppa and QL did not change significantly, but PVR increased after the increase in Pic. Both pulmonary lymph flow (Qlym) and transvascular protein clearance (CL) increased only in sheep with the Cushing response. In group III (n = 8) in which Qlym and CL increased after intracranial hypertension as in group I, the left atrial pressure was raised to increase the pulmonary capillary pressure (Pc) to determine the basis for the increases in Qlym and CL (i.e., whether vascular surface area or permeability increased). The increase in Pc produced a small increase and decrease in lymph-to-plasma protein concentration ratio, indicating that the transient increase in Pic did not increase endothelial permeability to proteins. The increases in Qlym and CL were due to increased pulmonary vascular surface area.

Effect of pulmonary arterial occlusion on lung fluid and protein exchange

We examined the effects of left pulmonary arterial occlusion and reperfusion on pulmonary transvascular fluid and protein exchange in the sheep lung lymph fistula preparation. Pulmonary lymph flow (Qlym) increased from the base-line value of 5.0 +/- 0.8 to 10.0 +/- 2.1 ml/h after occlusion (P less than 0.05); the steady-state value of 11.9 +/- 2.2 ml/h during reperfusion was not significantly different from the value during occlusion. The lymph-to-plasma protein concentration ratio (L/P) did not change significantly during either occlusion or reperfusion. Transvascular protein clearance (Qlym X L/P) increased from 3.7 +/- 0.6 to 8.4 +/- 2.1 ml/h during occlusion (P less than 0.05) and remained elevated at 8.6 +/- 1.7 ml/h during reperfusion. The sustained increases in Qlym and protein clearance could not be explained by the 3-Torr increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure during the occlusion period or by an increase in the interstitial protein concentration caused by a period of decreased filtration during occlusion. The increases in protein clearance that occurred with increased Qlym during occlusion and reperfusion were greater than the increases in protein clearance with comparably increased Qlym during left atrial hypertension. The results suggest that occlusion of a pulmonary artery increases vascular permeability to plasma proteins in the lung.

Effect of ADP-induced platelet aggregation on lung fluid balance in sheep.

The effects of platelet aggregation (PA), induced by an intravenous injection of adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP), on pulmonary fluid and protein exchange and on arterial blood gases were determined in artificially ventilated sheep prepared with lung lymph fistulas. ADP injection produced small increases (P less than 0.01) in pulmonary lymph flow (Qlym) and transvascular protein clearance (Qlym X lymph-to-plasma protein concentration ratio). These changes were not associated with significant increases in pulmonary arterial and left atrial pressures, pulmonary blood flow, or pulmonary vascular resistance. ADP-induced PA did not increase the pulmonary endothelial permeability to proteins, because an elevation of pulmonary microvascular pressure (Pmv), induced by inflation of a left atrial balloon catheter, produced the same increases in Qlym and protein clearance as in normal sheep after comparable increases in Pmv. The increases in Qlym and protein clearance can be explained by an increase in pulmonary vascular surface area. ADP-induced PA decreased the arterial oxygen tension, which was sustained for the 3 h duration of the study; the arterial carbon dioxide tension did not change and the arterial pH decreased (P less than 0.05) after PA. Chronic depletion of platelets with antiplatelet serum prevented the increases in Qlym and protein clearance and the arterial hypoxemia, indicating that these changes were the direct result of PA. Thus ADP-induced PA in sheep increased pulmonary fluid filtration and protein clearance by an increase in the vascular surface area. Also PA produced a rapid and prolonged arterial hypoxemia, which may result from the release of vasoactive and bronchoactive factors causing a maldistribution of ventilation and perfusion.

Adrenoceptor control of lung fluid and protein exchange.

We studied the effects of alpha- and beta-adrenergic antagonists on lung fluid and protein exchange in anesthetized sheep. alpha-Adrenergic blockade with 2 mg/kg phentolamine caused a transient and small decrease in lung lymph flow (Qlym), which was associated with a decrease in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa); but the steady-state Qlym and mean left atrial pressure were not different from base-line values. In contrast, beta-adrenergic blockade with propranolol (2 mg/kg) caused an increase in Qlym from a base-line value of 7.7 +/- 2.2 ml/h to a steady-state value of 10.6 +/-2.3 ml/h within 2 h (P less than 0.05), which was not associated with a change in Ppa. The increase in Qlym persisted for the 4-h duration of the study. The 39% increase in Qlym after propranolol was associated with a 50% increase in transvascular protein clearance (CL), whereas in control animals the 100% increase in Qlym after left atrial hypertension was associated with only a 36% increase in CL, indicating increased transvascular transport of proteins after propranolol. The transient decrease in Qlym after phentolamine may be due to the short-lasting decreased in pulmonary microvascular pressure and vascular surface area. However, the long-lasting increases in Qlym and CL after propranolol may be due to an increase in vascular surface area and to an increase in endothelial permeability of proteins. The results suggests that beta-adrenergic receptors regulate the transendothelial transport of fluid and proteins.