Effects of Atelectasis on Surface Activity of lung in Rabbits

무기폐(無氣肺)가 폐표면활성도(肺表面活性度)에 미치는 영향에 관(關)한 실험적(實驗的) 연구(硏究)

The effects of atelectasis on surface activity of lung extracts were examined in rabbits. Experimental atelectasis was produced in rabbits by artificial pneumothorax and surface tension properties were measured on saline extracts of lung 24 hrs, 48 hrs, one week and four weeks after the induction of pneumothorax. The results were as follows; 1) The minimum surface tension of excised lung extracts 24 hrs after pneumothorax was significantly increased to 28.3 0.41 dynes/cm, and the stability index was significantly decreased to 0.30 from normal value of 0. 87. 2) In the group which was re-expanded 24 hours, later from pneumothorax the surface activity was returned to almost normal range 24 hrs after reexpansion of collapsed lung, 3) When the atelectasis was continued by mechanical means, the extracts of atelectatic lung showed progressive decrease in surface activity, but it was found that surface activity returned to normal level after four weeks even the presence of atelectasis. 4) These observations suggest to us that atelectasis per se does not cause an increase in surface tension of lung extracts, and even in prolonged atelectasis the re-expansion of collapsed lung may be possible when the mechanical cause of atelectasis was excluded.