A fast transient osmotic method. Simultaneous in vivo determination of the reflexion coefficient and of the permeability/filtration coefficient ratio of the pulmonary capillary endothelium in the dog]

Thermodynamic variables characterizing the transport of water and urea across Dog pulmonary capillary membrane were obtained in vivo by means of a pulse transient osmotic method. Results were inconsistent with the hypothesis of a homoporous membrane. When data were interpreted in terms of an exclusive water channel and of a shared pore pathway, the value of the pore reflexion coefficient was close to zero for urea.