Lynn D. Martin

My research interests focus on various aspects of the pulmonary circulation. The specific areas include: 1) the developmental changes in the distribution of pulmonary blood flow, 2) the effects of hypoxia on the pulmonary vascular bed, and 3) the influences of both inhalational and intravenous anesthetics on these areas of focus. Experimental methods used to investigate these questions have included intact animals, isolated lungs, vascular rings, and static and dynamic endothelial cell culture techniques. I have evaluated the affects of changes in oxygen tension and anesthetic concentrations on pressure-flow curves in isolated lungs to the endothelial cell production of various vasoactive substances such as prostscyclin, thromboxane, leukotrienes, nitricoxide, and endothelin.Over the last year I have begun collaborative work with other respiratory physiology researchers examining the developmental changes in the distribution of pulmonary blood flow in contact lungs. We are utilizing state-of-the-art technology which includesfluorescent-labled microspheres mapping and fractal modelling of pulmonary with age and other physiologic and pathologic stimuli.