The effect of intravenous adrenaline and noradrenaline infusion of peripheral lymph flow in the sheep.

Abstract

SUMMARY1. Pressure fluctuations and lymph flow were measured in popliteal, prefemoral and mesenteric efferent lymphatic vessels in conscious sheep.2. Intravenous adrenaline infusion increased frequency of lymphatic contraction and lymph flow in all three vessels. In the case of the prefemoral vessels flow remained high after the infusion had stopped.3. Intravenous noradrenaline infusion also increased frequency of contraction and lymph flow in all three vessels but prefemoral flow was depressed after the infusion had stopped.4. Lymphatic frequency of contraction and lymph flow increased when the animals were startled.5. Anaesthetizing the animals with pentobarbitone did not abolish lymphatic contractions, nor did it prevent the response to adrenaline and noradrenaline infusions.6. The most obvious interpretation of these results is that adrenaline and noradrenaline act by increasing frequency and force of pumping of lymphatic vessels.

Quantitative measurement of lymphatic function in mice by noninvasive near-infrared imaging of a peripheral vein

“…volumes (<30 μl) of blood could be repeatedly sampled from either the tail vein or saphenous vein in restrained unanesthetized mice (14); however, it is stressful for the animal and this may affect lymph flow (33,34). Short-term inhalation anesthesia could be used to limit this effect; however, at least in mice, the dynamics of lymph transport are relatively quick, which would require multiple anesthesia applications and blood samplings within a short period of time.…”

The inhibitory effect of aspirin on lymphatic contractility

“…When, for example, the drug was applied for five min periods and then the vessels were returned to normal Krebs solution, inhibition never occurred within the period of drug administration even though it was during this time that a maximum concentration of the drug was achieved. Depression of contraction did not occur until ten min after drug washout, a delay that could be accounted for in terms of a metabolic action since those drugs which are known to have a direct inhibitory effect (such as isoprenaline) normally exert this during the first few minutes of drug addition (McHale & Roddie, 1983;Allen etal., 1983).…”

Transient Excitatory Responses to Sustained Stimulation of Intramural Nerves in Isolated Bovine Lymphatic Vessels

“…The frequency and force of these contractions can be increased both by stimulation of intramural noradrenergic nerves and application of noradrenaline (McHale, Roddie & Thornbury, 1980;McHale & Roddie, 1983;McHale, 1985;. One might expect, therefore, that stimulation of sympathetic nerves in living animals would result in increased lymph flow.…”