Lymph Propulsion Research Articles

Effects of morphine sulphate on capillary filtration and thoracic duct lymph formation in the rat.

SUMMARYRats with chronic experimental fistulae of the thoracic duct were maintained post‐operatively on regimes of saline infusion given either intravenously or intragastrically. A narcotizing dose of morphine sulphate reduced lymph flow during intravenous infusion but not during intragastric infusion. This could be interpreted as due to reduction of capillary filtration rather than reduction of fluid absorption from the gut or diminished lymph propulsion. Morphia initiated a moderate hypotension of at least seven hours' duration. This hypotension was sustained well beyond the time during which lymph flow was reduced. Portal pressure and flow appeared to be unaffected by morphia. The reduced filtration following morphia has been tentatively attributed to a reduction in filtering area of the abdominal capillary bed rather than to lowered capillary filtering pressure.

THE EFFECT OF INTRAVENOUS ACETYLCHOLINE INJECTIONS ON THE THORACIC LYMPH PRODUCTION

1. Intravenous injection of acetylcholine in doses 0·02–0·2 γ/cat and 0·2–2 γ/dog causes an increase in the lymph‐flow through the thoracic duct.2. Experiments are described proving that most of the increased lymph‐flow comes from the intestines, and a smaller proportion from the liver.3. It was shown by direct microscopical observation that acetylcholine causes a dilatation of both the precapillary arteries and the capillaries of the villi, but the dilatation of the former is greater. Such a condition results in an increased lymph production. The action of acetylcholine on the capillaries and precapillary arteries is regarded as the cause of the increased lymph‐flow. Atropine annuls the effect of acetylcholine on the lymph‐flow. The effect of atropine on the blood pressure and lymph‐flow is parallel. The effect of acetylcholine on the contractile elements of the vascular system is probably not the sole cause of the increased lymph‐flow because in animals dyed with chlorazol skyblue the increase in the lymph‐flow is greater, although the capillary changes are less marked. It seems probable that acetylcholine also increases the permeability of the capillary walls.4. It has been shown that contraction of the villi also provoked by acetylcholine cannot be the cause of the increased lymph‐flow, because chlorazol skyblue, while completely paralysing the motion of the villi, enhances the effect of acetylcholine on the lymph‐flow. Based on this fact the supposition that the contraction of villi plays any important rôle in the emptying of the contents of the villi and the propulsion of lymph is questioned. It had also been shown that increased peristalis cannot be the cause of the increased lymph‐flow, though both factors may play a rôle in the propulsion of the lymph. Gland activity as a possible cause has also been excluded.5. Since acetylcholine exerts its influence on the lymph‐flow in physiologically occurring doses, and since its effect is evanescent and repeatable many times, acetylcholine is regarded as a compound acting as a physiological lymph producer.The author has pleasure in thanking Professor Sándor Belák for his many useful suggestions in the course of this work.

Observations on the propulsion of lymph through the mesenteric lymphatic vessels of the living rat

Observations on the propulsion of lymph through the mesenteric lymphatic vessels of the living rat

On Lymphatic Hearts and the Phenomena attending the Propulsion of Lymph from them into the Veins into which they open

On Lymphatic Hearts and the Phenomena attending the Propulsion of Lymph from them into the Veins into which they open

On the phenomena observed to attend the propulsion of lymph from one of the lymphatic hearts into a vein in the frog

An anæmic frog, killed, as regards sensation and voluntary motion, without stoppage of the circulation, by plunging into water at 110 or 120° Fahr., was laid open, and the posterior part of the anterior lymphatic heart of one side, in the niche behind and below the extremity of the large transverse process of the third vertebra, brought into view. By the removal of the skin of the back from over the scapular region, the part of the heart mentioned admitted of examination by transmitted light under a simple microscope—the lens 1/2-inch focus. It was seen that when the lymphatic heart contracted, a stream of lymph was propelled from it into a vein at its posterior border, and swept before it the blood in that vessel, whilst the flow from behind was arrested. As soon, however, as diastole of the lymphatic heart supervened, the flow of blood from behind became reestablished, and drove the lymph onward in its turn. Systole of the heart now again ensuing, the lymph-stream propelled into the vein swept forward the blood in that vessel as before, whilst the flow of blood from behind was arrested; and so the same series of phenomena was repeated. It was thus seen that the phenomena attending the propulsion of lymph from the anterior lymphatic hearts of the frog into the veins at their posterior border, with which they communicate by a valvular opening, are essentially similar to those attending the propulsion of the lymph from the caudal heart of the eel into the caudal vein.