The isolated perfused lung

Abstract

The lung has developed dedicated structures and cell types to accomplish its particular functions. An elaborate exchange of both information and matter takes place between the lung and other organs of the body, which in total is a system of utmost complexity. In order to be able to study this perplexing system at least some of the complexity has to be eliminated. In this sense the isolated perfused lung represents a system much less complicated than the whole animal while preserving most of the integrity of the organ. As an experimental approach the isolated perfused lung (IPL) stands in between experiments in vivo with whole animals and in vitro with cultured cells. As such it combines assets and shortcomings of both. The present chapter will describe a set-up for the isolated per-fused rat lung that allows to study four important aspects of lung physiology: respiratory mechanics, vessel mechanics, gas exchange and edema formation. Here, we will focus on the perfused rat lung, however, most of the equipment can also be used for isolated lungs from rabbits [1] or guinea pigs [2]. In a number of aspects the present text supplements our previous papers on the method of the rat IPL [3, 4]. A good compilation of earlier papers on perfused lungs is given in the introduction of the paper by Kröll et al. [2]. Previous reviews on the method of the isolated lung can be found in [5–9]. In addition, more specialized systems such as single lung perfusion [10] or perfusion through the bronchial artery [11] have also been described.