To characterize further some of the factors affecting lung tissue soluble-gas rebreathing volume (Vlt), we determined the solubility of acetylene in blood and lung tissue, the influence of the presence of pulmonary edema on tissue solubility, the effects of varying tidal volume (VT), and the tissue volume actually measured in two groups of six anesthetized paralyzed dogs: controls (C) and oleic acid-induced pulmonary edema (OA). Each animal's solubility was used to compute Vlt for comparison with gravimetric lung weight (Ql) and extravascular lung water content (Qwl). Solubility at 37.5 degrees C in blood (0.125 ml X 100 ml-1 X Torr-1) exceeded that in lung tissue (P less than 0.005): C = 0.118 and OA = 0.112 ml X 100 ml-1 X Torr-1 (NS). Vlt, expressed as %Ql, increased with increasing VT (20, 35, and 50 ml/kg) in OA (62.2, 78.9, and 94.7%, respectively, P less than 0.0001) but not in C (92.4, 94.4, and 99.3%, respectively). We conclude that solubility differs in blood and lung tissue but not in normal and edematous lungs, Vlt is not affected by VT in normal dogs but is in those with pulmonary edema, and Vlt measures Ql rather than Qwl.