Altered Mesothelial Permeability in the Guinea Pig Following Bilateral Vagotomy.

Abstract

Summary The Rb⁸⁶ and P³²-orthophosphate permeability of mesentery removed from vagotomized guinea pigs in terminal stages of pulmonary edema was greater than the permeability of mesentery from control animals. The exposure of guinea pigs to air diluted with nitrogen, producing a sometimes fatal anoxia, did not alter mesothelial permeability or lung weight. Exposure of vagotomized animals to an atmosphere rich in oxygen failed to prevent an increase in mesentery permeability or in lung weight. Vagotomy, however, did not alter the permeability of mesentery taken from reserpine-pretreated animals, although high lung weights indicated pulmonary edema. Because it is improbable that vagotomy affected the permeability only of mesenteric mesothelium, increased permeability of pulmonary membranes may play a role in vagotomy-induced pulmonary edema, whether or not hemodynamic abnormalities are also important. The results with reserpine, however, prove that the mechanism is not identical in lungs and mesentery.