Pleural fluid exchange in rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
The study was designed to better characterize pleural fluid absorption in rabbits with the following two objectives: to determine the relative absorption of saline versus high-protein solutions, and to identify the relative rates of absorption of dextran molecules of varying sizes.


METHODS
Twenty New Zealand white rabbits received a 12-mL intrapleural injection of saline solution and a 10% protein solution on opposite sides, each solution containing dextran molecules with varying MWs. At sacrifice at 1, 4, 8, 18 and 24 h, the volume of pleural fluid and the concentrations of the dextran molecules were determined.


RESULTS
Saline was absorbed faster than the high-protein fluid (P < 0.001). Dextran concentrations in the saline were significantly higher than those in the protein solution at all times after injection (P = 0.005; P < 0.001, respectively). The higher-MW dextrans were cleared more slowly than the lower-MW dextrans in a continuously graded manner.


CONCLUSIONS
Saline was absorbed faster than a solution with a high protein content. There was a continuous spectrum in the rate of absorption of the dextran molecules, with the larger molecules being absorbed more slowly.
Stashenko
Gregg J
GJ
Department of Medicine, Saint Thomas Hospital, Division of Allergy, Critical Care and Pulmonary Diseases, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Robichaux
Amy
A
Lee
Y C Gary
YC
Sanders
Jonathan R
JR
Roselli
Robert J
RJ
Light
Richard W
RW
D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003911:Dextrans / Q000378:metabolism; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D007267:Injections; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000378:metabolism
D003911:Dextrans; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic; C015219:fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate