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Stimulation of the lymphatic pump inhibits passive flow
Author(s) -
Ngo Bruce,
Vengopal Arun,
Meisner Joshua,
Quinlan Craig,
Quick Christopher,
Stewart Randolph
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.20.5.a823
Subject(s) - lymphatic system , lymphatic vessel , chemistry , volumetric flow rate , pressure gradient , anatomy , biomedical engineering , medicine , mechanics , pathology , physics , cancer , metastasis
Lymphatic vessels act as pumps to promote lymph flow up a pressure gradient and as conduits for flow down a pressure gradient. We hypothesized that stimulation of the pumping lymphatic will decrease average diameter, increasing vessel resistance to passive flow. Bovine post‐nodal mesenteric lymphatic vessels (n = 4) were harvested locally from freshly slaughtered cattle. Vessels were instrumented in a tubular organ bath and bathed with a balanced polyionic 1% albumin solution set to 37° C, gassed with room air, and buffered to a pH of 7.4. Inlet pressure to the vessel was set at 5 cm H 2 O while outlet pressure was varied from about 6.5 to 3.5 cm H 2 O. Lymphatic vessels were exposed to solution containing 10 −7 M U46619, a thromboxane analogue, and solution without U46619 in random order and instantaneous diameter and flow rate were recorded. Mean diameter of the lymphatic vessel was significantly decreased in the presence of U46619 (1.81±0.032 mm vs. 1.55±0.057 mm, p = 0.001, Student's t‐test). Flow rates were significantly inhibited during positive pressure gradients (mean difference 2.63±0.62 g/min, p < 0.001, ANCOVA) while no difference in flow was detected during pumping against a pressure gradient (p = 0.26, ANCOVA). We conclude that stimulation of post‐nodal mesenteric lymphatic vessels inhibits passive flow by decreasing average diameter and thereby increasing resistance to flow. TAMU‐LSTF, AHA‐0365127Y, CDC‐623086.