Heavy metal enhancement of airway sulfate absorption in the perfused rat lung.
The effect of heavy metal cations in enhancing the absorption of sulfate ions from the airways of the isolated, ventilated and perfused rat lung (IVPL) into the lung vasculature was studied. The cations investigated included Cd++, Co++, Hg+++, Ni++, Fe+++, Mn++ and Zn++. The cations increased the sulfate ion absorption from the rat IVPL 199-264% as compared to absorption in the presence of Na+ ions. An exception was Mn++, in which absorption did not differ significantly from the Na+ control. The uptake of sulfate ions from the vasculature of the IVPL could not be demonstrated.