Characterization and quantification of lung intracapillary leukocytes is of interest for a better understanding of immunological and inflammatory features in this organ. We developed a technique of computer-assisted measurement of digitalized electron-microscopic images and electronic data processing for morphometry of intracapillary leukocyte pools in rabbit lungs (L. Ermert, W. Seeger, and H.-R. Duncker, Cell Tissue Res. 271: 469-476, 1993). Measurements were undertaken in buffer-perfused isolated lungs (avoiding any reentry of washed-out cells); perfusion fixation was performed 7.5, 35, and 185 min after onset of artificial circulation (n = 5 each). Data were compared with that of nonperfused lungs fixed by tracheal instillation (baseline). Total lung capillary neutrophil counts were 1.41 x 10(9), 1.35 x 10(9), 1.37 x 10(9), and 0.69 x 10(9) (baseline, 7.5, 35, and 185 min perfusion, respectively). Corresponding data for intracapillary lymphocytes were 1.07 x 10(9), 0.84 x 10(9), 0.81 x 10(9), and 0.57 x 10(9); and for microvascular monocytes, data were 0.21 x 10(9), 0.19 x 10(9), 0.18 x 10(9), and 0.08 x 10(9). Ratios of cell volume and surface variables of the different intracapillary leukocyte types did not change during ex vivo lung perfusion. We conclude that the rabbit pulmonary capillary bed harbors large pools of different leukocytes, which surpass pool sizes of corresponding circulating cells and display very slow washout kinetics under conditions of lung-buffer perfusion. A major impact of these intracapillary leukocyte pools on immunological and inflammatory events in isolated-perfused and transplanted lungs must be assumed.