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Transdiaphragmatic lymphatic pathways in spontaneously breathing rats
Author(s) -
Negrini Daniela,
Moriondo Andrea,
Grimaldi Annalisa,
Sciacca Laura
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a274
Subject(s) - lymphatic system , diaphragmatic breathing , medicine , pleural effusion , effusion , diaphragm (acoustics) , peritoneum , peritoneal effusion , peritoneal cavity , intraperitoneal injection , pleural cavity , lymph , pathology , anatomy , surgery , physics , alternative medicine , acoustics , loudspeaker
The occurrence of macromolecules or cells fluxes between the pleural and peritoneal cavities via the diaphragmatic lymphatic plexus was assessed in 24 spontaneously breathing anesthetized rats (BW = 373 ± 85 g (SE)) in control, pleural effusion or ascite. Controls received an intrapleural injection of 0.2 ml of 1% albumin solution (BSA) containing 2 % fluorescent FITC dextrans (70,000 Da) and microspheres (0.1 μm diameter) or an intraperitoneal injection of 1 ml of the same solution labeled with 4 % fluorescent rhodamin and microspheres. Pleural effusion (6.6 ml/kg) or ascite (100 ml/kg) were induced via an intrapleural or intraperitoneal injection of the labelling solution plus 1% BSA. In separate groups, pleural (P pl ), peritoneal (P abd ) and net transdiaphragmatic (P td = P pl ‐ P abd ) pressures were measured up to 3 h from injection. At 3 h rats were sacrificed and the diaphragm excised. Confocal microscopy revealed that in controls (P td = − 0.3 ± 0.007 cmH 2 O) dyes entered the diaphragmatic lymphatic submesothelial lacunae at the side of injection to be drained into the deeper collecting lymphatics. Transfer of dye was observed from pleural to peritoneal space in pleural effusion (P td = + 0.4 ± 0.006 cmH 2 O), but not from peritoneal to pleural space in ascite (P td = − 3.5 ± 0.008 cmH 2 O), in spite of a greater P td . Data suggest that the diaphragmatic lymphatic plexus might provide a unidirectional pleural to peritoneal route for fluid and macromolecules escape. This study was supported by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR‐FIRB2001).