Studies on the Lymph Node-Venous Communications II. The Passage of Labeled Exogenous Erythrocytes*

Abstract

The passage of 51Cr labeled avian erythrocytes has been followed through the medial retropharyngeal
lymph node of the dog by injecting labeled avian erythrocytes into one afferent
lymphatic channel and assaying for radioactivity in samples recovered from the efferent lymphatic
channel, the adjacent internal jugular vein, and distally from the femoral vein. Profiles
of recovery were consistent with those found when using radioactive iodinated serum albumen.
A secondary peak of recovery from the efferent lymphatic channel and adjacent internal jugular
vein coincided with timed nodal palpation. The amounts of nodal retention and transnodal
passage were quantitated and discussed in terms of passage rates and possible clinical relevance.
The transnodal passage of Jvian erythrocytes suggests the size of the lymph node-venous communication
to be on the order of a capillary or larger.