Differential time scale of fluid and solute permeability following hypothermic lung preservation

Background: Assessment of the quality of lung graft preservation by simple functional measures in some laboratory models may fail to detect endothelial injury. The effects of hypothermic preservation in isolation were investigated by measuring the pulmonary capillary filtration coefficient (Kf) and the albumin surface area product (PS) at various cold ischemic intervals. Methods: Rat lungs were flushed with University of Wisconsin solution at 4 degrees C. Following storage at 4 degrees C, lungs for Kf measurement were subjected to a change in pulmonary arterial pressure. Kf was calculated from the change in rate of weight gain as a function of hydrostatic stress. PS lungs were exposed to Tris buffered Ringer's solution containing I-125 albumin (20 mu M) in an isogravimetric state. Following a vascular flush the lungs were homogenized and underwent scintillation counting. Using the Kedem-Katchalsky equation PS was calculated. Results: The Kf for the control, 4-hour, and 7-hour groups were 0.778, 1.816, 4.853 g/cm H2O/min/100 g wet lung tissue, respectively. There was a significant increase in Kf with each time increment (P,0.01). The Kf for the 24-hour group was 5.587 g/cm H2O/min/100 g wet lung tissue; not an additional significant increase. PS for the control and 4-hour groups (0.0115 and 0.0101 cm(3)/g wet lung tissue/minute, respectively) were not significantly different. After 7 hours there was a significant increase to 0.171 cm(3)/g wet lung tissue/min. PS could not be measured after 24 hours. Conclusions: Significant endothelial injury occurs after 4 hours of cold ischemic preservation. There is progressive injury with time. Increase in water permeability is not secondary to increase in albumin permeability.