ABSTRACT
Granulomata may be induced in the lung by the intravenous administration of either complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) containing mycobacterium butyricum, or by Bacille bilie de Calmette-Guerin, in oil. Unilateral lung disease may be produced by the occlusion of one pulmonary artery by the placement of a balloon catheter during the administration of CFA. The induction of the inflammatory and granulomatous response is presumably related to the activity of a muramyl dipeptide component of the mycobacterial cell wall, but also requires the presence of mineral oil. Pulmonary compliance decreases proportionately with the increasing severity of granulomatous involvement in the diseased lung. Pulmonary shunt flow is increased in the diseased lung and increases further under mild hypoxia. Thus, there is a decreased hypoxic vasoconstrictive response both in diseased, gas-exchanging regions and in shunt pathways. The result is a worsening of hypoxemia with increased blood flow to the diseased portions of the lungs under conditions of mild hypoxia.
