Transpleural diffusion of carbon dioxide.

Carbonic anhydrase in lung tissue might play a role in speeding the movement of CO2 between blood and alveolus. To test this hypothesis, we measured the transpleural diffusion rate of CO2 and compared it to that of oxygen, argon, and nitrogen, before and after inhibition of carbonic anhydrase activity with acetazolamide. Experiments were performed in exsanguinated dog lungs, which allowed study of CO2 dynamics in the absence of carbonic anhydrase activity from erythrocytes. The relative rate of movement of CO2 and the other gases into and out of the lung, agreed with that predicted solely on the basis of molecular weight and solubility. We conclude that there is no evidence for facilitated diffusion of CO2 across the pleural tissue.