Some Aspects of Lymph Production in the Rat

Abstract

Several reports have shown the apparent superiority of NaCl solution over water as a lymphagogue; most of these studies have been carried out in ad libitum drinking animals (1). We have studied the effect of triglycerides, starch, casein, hormones, and Na+/K+ ratio on lymph flow. These studies were made possible by the development of a modified Bollman's technique for the cannulation of the abdominal thoracic duct in the rat (2), which includes the infusion of solutions into the duodenum at a constant rate to assure a uniform lymph flow rate. The substances listed above and found to be lymphagogic, with the exception of triglycerides, were only effective when the animals were infused with 0.85% NaCl solution rather than with water.Materials and Methods. Female rats (300 t_ 15 g) were purchased from Charles River Breeding Labs. (North Wilmington, Mass.) and were fed Purina chow. The surgical technique for the cannulation of the abdominal thoracic duct has been described in detail ( 2 ) . In the present studies, cannulation of the thoracic duct was followed by cannulation of the avascular part of the stomach. After operation, the animal was put in a restraining cage; the catheter going into the stomach was connected to a compact infusion pump, model 975 (Harvard Apparatus Co., Inc., Dover, Mass.). A container covered with a wire gauze was placed underneath the animal to collect the excreta and to separate the feces from the urine. The latter was then measured during variable intervals c o r r e c spondinp to the periods of lymph cdlectio~,! 1 Throughout these studies a constant $fusion rate of 4 ml/h was used. The variables investigated were: concentration of NaCl, the effect of various ratios of 0.85% NaCl and 0.85% KCI, of 2% protein, of 1-2076 carbohydrate, and of 2% triglycerides in either saline or water. In addition, subcutaneous injections of vasopressin (p-hypophamine) , oxytocin (a-hypophamine) or deoxycorticosterone (Doca) were studied during the infusion of either 0.851% saline or water in these stomach fistula-thoracic duct fistula animals.Results. As shown in Fig.

Blocking of olive oil induced plasma protein escape from the intestinal circulation by histamine antagonists and by a diamine oxidase releasing agent

“…Studies concerning the effect of ingestion of various food stuffs on the formation of lymph have shown that lipids strongly increase lymph flow [1][2][3]. The increase in the lymph volume partially comes from luminal absorption, but we have recently shown that increased accumulation of intestinal lymph may also be due to increased plasma protein leakage from the intestinal circulation [4].…”