The effect of operation and the method of feeding on the lymphatic transport of fat by bile fistula rats.

Abstract

Unemulsified corn oil was fed to lymph fistula rats with and without bile fistulæ. The output of esterified fat in the lymph was then measured over the next 24 hr. When bile fistula rats were fed within a day of establishment of fistulæ, the lymphatic output of fat was less than 10 per cent of the dose fed. When the same animals were fed 48 hr. after surgery, however, the output was much greater (30–50 per cent). It seemed probable that the small lymphatic recovery after early testing was largely due to metabolic effects of operative trauma and not to the loss of bile salts per se. The free fatty acid content of the lymph from bile fistula rats was not markedly raised after feeding either 24 or 48 hr. after operation.In rats without bile fistulæ lymphatic output of fat was not significantly different when feeding was performed 24 or 48 hr. after surgery.The output of fat in the lymph of bile fistula rats fed a single intragastric dose of corn oil 48 hr. after surgery was also compared with the output after continuous intraduodenal infusion of olive oil. No significant difference between the lymphatic output in these two groups was found.