Spatial distribution of pulmonary blood flow in dogs in increased force environments

Spatial distribution of pulmonary blood flow (SDPBF) during 2- to 3-min exposures to 6-8 G(y) acceleration was studied, using radioactive microspheres in dogs, and compared to previously reported 1 G(y) control distributions. Isotope distributions were measured by scintiscanning individual 1-cm-thick cross sections of excised, fixed lungs. Results indicate: (1) the fraction of cardiac output traversing left and right lungs did not change systematically with the duration and magnitude of acceleration; but (2) the fraction is strongly affected by the occurrence or absence of fast deep breaths, which cause an increase or decrease, respectively, in blood flow through the dependent lung; and (3) G(y) acceleration caused a significant increase in relative pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in nondependent and dependent regions of the lung concurrent with a decrease in PVR in the midsagittal region of the thorax. Result 3 may be mediated primarily by changes in regional alveolar volume and geometry in the nondependent hemithorax combined with hydrostatic effects of extravascular fluid and active hypoxic response in the dependent region and is superimposed on, and may override, hydrostatic effects of perfusion pressures on SDPBF during acceleration.