During single pass indicator studies across the lungs [14C]urea remains in the vascular compartment, but its molecular size and solubility suggest it might escape abnormally permeable vessels. To test the hypothesis that [14C]urea might be used to distinguish pulmonary edema due to acutely increased intravascular pressure from that due to vascular damage by alloxan, we studied [51Cr]erythrocytes (r), [125I]albumin (a), [14C]urea (u), and tritiated water as dilution indicators in the pulmonary circulation of anesthetized dogs. In addition, the adequacy of albumin as an intravascular indicator was evaluated.
Kenneth L. Brigham, James D. Snell Jr.