Diffusion pathway of oxygen in ox lung.

ABSTRACT

The diffusion coefficients of cell membranes of pneumocytes plus endothelial cells, cytosol plus blood plasma, erythrocyte membranes, and hemoglobin solution in erythrocytes were estimated from the fluorometrically measured membrane viscosity. The time course of oxygen partial pressure distribution was numerically calculated in a model for the pathway of oxygen in the lung. The high viscosity of the phospholipid bilayers seems to cause a reduction in the rate of oxygenation of the hemoglobin solution.