FAILURE OF THE CANINE PRINCIPAL ASCENDING EPICARDIAL LYMPHATIC TO REGENERATE AFTER TRANSECTION

Abstract

We transected the principal ascending anterior epicardial cardiac lymphatic in 10 dogs,and after varying time intervals re-operated to look for lymphatic regeneration using dyeinjection. Photographs and sketches were made to record the findings, and in six dogs serialhistologic sections were also examined.In none of the 10 dogs was regeneration of the transected principal cardiac lymphaticdetected although small lymphatic collaterals from the distal side of the lymphatic developed in 2dogs. Further studies are merited to assess the role of lymphatic insufficiency in the developmentof coronary vasculopathy and chronic rejection after cardiac transplantation and other heartoperations (e.g., coronary artery bypass) that may injure lymphatic drainage capacity.