Effects of maturation and aging on collateral ventilation in sheep

We studied collateral ventilation as a function of age by measuring the resistance (Rcoll) and time constant (Tcoll) of collateral airflow in young (2-10 mo), mature (16-24 mo), and old sheep (6-13 yr). Rcoll was 0.50 ± 0.11 cmH₂O·ml^-1·min (SE) in young sheep and decreased significantly to 0.05 ± 0.02 and 0.02 ± 0.01 cmH₂O·ml^-1·min in mature and old sheep, respectively. Tcoll was 34.4 ± 7.9 (SE) s in young sheep and decreased to 5.7 ± 0.9 and 10.2 ± 3.1 s in mature and old sheep, respectively. We conclude that a marked decrease in Rcoll and Tcoll occurs between birth and maturity but changes little with further aging. In the young an increased resistance and time constant of collateral airflow may accentuate ventilation perfusion imbalance and impair the removal of secretions in disease states.