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  • Title: Maturation of interdependence between extra-alveolar arteries and lung parenchyma in piglets.
    Author: Mansell AL, McAteer AL, Pipkin AC.
    Journal: Circ Res; 1992 Sep; 71(3):701-10. PubMed ID: 1499112.
    Abstract:
    Mechanical interdependence between intrapulmonary structures and parenchyma has not been studied previously in immature postnatal lungs. To study these interactions, lung elastic moduli were measured by pressure-volume and punch indentation studies in lobes excised from 3-day-old (n = 6), 1-month-old (n = 6), and 3-month-old (n = 7) piglets. After extra-alveolar arteries were filled with a radiopaque fluid silicone compound, transpulmonary pressure and arterial pressure were varied independently as the lobar vein was occluded. Arterial diameters and lengths were measured from radiographs. Behavior of 3-month-old lungs was consistent with previous studies of adult lungs, but results were unique in 3-day-old lungs. That is, during stepwise deflation of the immature lungs 1) intravascular pressures fell when arteries were occluded experimentally, 2) arteries increased their diameters when kept at a constant intravascular pressure, and 3) arterial lengths decreased by less than 3%. Behavior of 1-month-old lungs was intermediate. A previous continuum mechanics analysis of pressure-diameter behavior was modified to account for compression by alveolar pressure as vascular diameters increase. It was concluded that 1) radial and axial dimensions of extra-alveolar arteries are virtually independent of parenchymal expansion in newborn piglet lungs and 2) periarterial interstitial pressures increase as these lungs are inflated. Our interpretation of these findings is that a mechanical association of the arteries to the parenchyma occurs gradually with postnatal maturation.
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