Regional Lymph Flow in Unanesthetized Rabbits

Abstract

Determinations were made of the 2-hour ²²Na space and the 1 and 2 hour ⁵¹Cr-EDTA spaces in a number of tissues. In regions where the two ⁵¹Cr-EDTA spaces were similar and smaller than or similar to the ²²Na space the former spaces were regarded as measures of the extra-cellular volume. Using previously published data for plasma volumes, extravascular plasma-equivalent albumin and IgG spaces and the turnover rate constants for the extravascular proteins, it was possible to calculate extravascular protein concentrations and rates of net filtration from the capillaries or lymph flow in some tissues.

The albumin concentrations, probably underestimated, were about 40% of the plasma concentrations in small intestine, lung and skeletal muscle, higher in heart muscle and lower in stomach wall. The net filtration or lymph flow, probably overestimated, was 0.81, 1.5, 0.53, 0.61 and 0.12 μ l/min per g in heart muscle, small intestine, lung, stomach wall and skeletal muscle, respectively.