THE EFFECT OF PASSIVE MOTION ON THE FLOW AND FORMATION OF LYMPH

Abstract

The effect of different rates of passive movement on
the flow and composition of paw lymph was studied
in anesthetized dogs. Lymph flow was halved by
decreasing the frequency of paw pumping from
100 cpm to 10 cpm. The lymph: plasma concentration
ratio of total protein (R_TP) was not affected initially
by the decrease in pumping rate. With continued
pumping at 10 cpm, average lymph flow increased
toward control (100 cpm) levels and R_TP decreased.
Resumption of pumping at 100 cpm, significantly
increased lymph flow but did not change R_TP. Lymph
flow then declined toward control flows as R_TP rose
toward the values observed at 100 cpm. Steady state
lymph flows during initial 100 cpm pumping, during
10 cpm and during the resumption of 100 cpm
pumping were not significantly different. When paw
pumping was stopped, average lymph flow decreased
quickly and remained at a very low value for at least
90 minutes. Resumption of paw pumping increased
lymph flow above initial control values but did not
affect R_TP.
We conclude that widely differing rates of passive
paw movement give similar steady-state lymph flows
from isolated paw lymphatics of anesthetized dogs.
The interstitial space of the paw apparently acts as a
volume buffer which stores lymph during transient
periods of low lymph removal and empties during
high rates of lymph removal.