Transcapillary Starling forces using membrane osmometry.

Abstract

Membrane osmometry was used to estimate the four transcapillary Starling pressures in subcutaneous tissue of rats, guinea pigs, and dogs. Isolated subcutaneous tissue samples were either placed on a large-pore or small-pore osmometer that measured the interstitial fluid pressure (Pif) and the difference between the interstitial fluid pressure and the interstitial protein osmotic pressure (Pif-pi if), respectively. The colloid osmotic pressure of the interstitial fluid (pi if) was obtained from the difference in these two pressures. A plasma sample placed on the small-pore osmometer yielded the colloid osmotic pressure of the plasma proteins (pi c). Finally the capillary pressure (Pc) was calculated from the three other Starling forces. In the rat, guinea pig, and dog, respectively, the estimated Starling forces were as follows: Pif -2.2, -2.1, and -4.8 mmHg; pi if, 7.3, 4.8, and 4.4 mmHg; pi c, 21.3, 19.5, and 19.2 mmHg; and Pc, 11.8, 12.6, and 10.0 mmHg. A comparison with data obtained in other studies using different methods shows good agreement and strongly supports membrane osmometry as a method for measuring the Starling pressures in subcutaneous tissue.