title: Neutral and DEAE dextrans as tracers for assessing lung microvascular barrier permeability and integrity.
abstract: Steady-state lymph-to-plasma concentration ratios (L/Ps) of neutral dextrans, cationic DEAE dextrans, and endogenous proteins were determined under normal and increased permeability conditions in six unanesthetized yearling sheep prepared with chronic lung lymph fistulas. Fluorescent dextrans with radii ranging from 1 to 30 nm were intravenously infused, and after 24 h, perilla ketone (PK) was given to alter permeability while the dextran infusion was maintained. Plasma and lymph samples were collected before and after PK administration and analyzed for dextran and protein concentrations after high-performance liquid chromatography size separation. Under both baseline and increased permeability conditions, DEAE dextrans had higher L/Ps than neutral dextrans of similar size but lower L/Ps than proteins of similar size. Comparison of L/Ps before and after PK revealed that the percentage change in permeability for neutral and DEAE dextrans was significantly larger than that for proteins. These results suggest that 1) the pulmonary microvascular barrier behaves as a net negative barrier, 2) some transport mechanisms for proteins and dextrans are different, and 3) neutral and cationic dextrans are more sensitive markers than proteins of the same size for assessing changes in pulmonary capillary permeability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: N Adrienne
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Pou
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Roselli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015824:Blood-Air Barrier / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002138:Calibration; D002196:Capillaries / Q000502:physiology; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000502:physiology; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003637:DEAE-Dextran; D003911:Dextrans; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007201:Indicator Dilution Techniques; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008196:Lymph / Q000378:metabolism; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000633:toxicity; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D003637:DEAE-Dextran; C015426:perilla ketone