Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The Journal of Physiology logoLink to The Journal of Physiology
. 1987 Dec;393:123–133. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1987.sp016814

The effect of electrical stimulation of the sympathetic chain on peripheral lymph flow in the anaesthetized sheep.

J G McGeown 1, N G McHale 1, K D Thornbury 1
PMCID: PMC1192384  PMID: 3446793

Abstract

1. Pressure fluctuations and lymph flow were measured in cannulated popliteal efferent and metatarsal afferent lymphatics in anaesthetized sheep. 2. Stimulation of the lumbar sympathetic chain at 1.4 and 10 Hz increased lymph flow and lymphatic contraction frequency. These effects were most marked during 10 Hz stimulation where, in some efferent preparations, greater than 5-fold increases in lymph flow and contraction frequency were observed. 3. Strain-gauge plethysmograph recordings in the lymphatic's drainage area indicated that during stimulation blood flow was reduced. There was also a slow continuous fall in tissue volume throughout the periods of stimulation, presumably due to a net uptake of fluid by the blood vessels. 4. Intra-arterial infusion of phentolamine at a rate of 10 micrograms kg-1 min-1 blocked the increases in lymph flow and contraction frequency. 5. These results suggest that the observed increases in lymph flow were due to direct neurogenic stimulation of lymphatic pumping.

Full text

PDF
123

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Adair T. H., Moffatt D. S., Paulsen A. W., Guyton A. C. Quantitation of changes in lymph protein concentration during lymph node transit. Am J Physiol. 1982 Sep;243(3):H351–H359. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.1982.243.3.H351. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Alessandrini C., Gerli R., Sacchi G., Ibba L., Pucci A. M., Fruschelli C. Cholinergic and adrenergic innervation of mesenterial lymph vessels in guinea pig. Lymphology. 1981 Mar;14(1):1–6. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Barnes R. J., Bower E. A., Rink T. J. Haemodynamic responses to stimulation of the cardiac autonomic nerves in the anaesthetized cat with closed chest. J Physiol. 1980 Feb;299:55–73. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1980.sp013110. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Browse N. L. Response of lymphatics of canine hind limb to sympathetic nerve stimulation. J Physiol. 1968 Jul;197(1):25–36. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1968.sp008542. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Campbell T., Heath T. Intrinsic contractility of lymphatics in sheep and in dogs. Q J Exp Physiol Cogn Med Sci. 1973 Jul;58(3):207–217. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.1973.sp002209. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Florey H. Observations on the contractility of lacteals: Part II. J Physiol. 1927 Jun 7;63(1):1–18. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1927.sp002375. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. GREENFIELD A. D., WHITNEY R. J., MOWBRAY J. F. Methods for the investigation of peripheral blood flow. Br Med Bull. 1963 May;19:101–109. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bmb.a070026. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Hall J. G., Morris B., Woolley G. Intrinsic rhythmic propulsion of lymph in the unanaesthetized sheep. J Physiol. 1965 Sep;180(2):336–349. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1965.sp007706. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Knox P., Pflug J. J. The effect of the canine popliteal node on the composition of lymph. J Physiol. 1983 Dec;345:1–14. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1983.sp014961. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Lewis G. P., Winsey N. J. The action of pharmacologically active substances on the flow and composition of cat hind limb lymph. Br J Pharmacol. 1970 Nov;40(3):446–460. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. McGeown J. G., McHale N. G., Thornbury K. D. The role of external compression and movement in lymph propulsion in the sheep hind limb. J Physiol. 1987 Jun;387:83–93. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1987.sp016564. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. McHale N. G., Roddie I. C. The effect of intravenous adrenaline and noradrenaline infusion of peripheral lymph flow in the sheep. J Physiol. 1983 Aug;341:517–526. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1983.sp014821. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. McHale N. G., Roddie I. C. The effects of catecholamines on pumping activity in isolated bovine mesenteric lymphatics. J Physiol. 1983 May;338:527–536. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1983.sp014687. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. McHale N. G., Roddie I. C., Thornbury K. D. Nervous modulation of spontaneous contractions in bovine mesenteric lymphatics. J Physiol. 1980 Dec;309:461–472. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1980.sp013520. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. McHale N. G., Thornbury K. A method for studying lymphatic pumping activity in conscious and anaesthetized sheep. J Physiol. 1986 Sep;378:109–118. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1986.sp016210. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. RUSZNYAK I., FOLDI M., SZAGO G. Lymphangiospasm. Acta Med Scand. 1950;137(1):37–42. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Russell J. A., Zimmerman K., Middendorf W. F. Evidence for alpha-adrenergic innervation of the isolated canine thoracic duct. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol. 1980 Dec;49(6):1010–1015. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1980.49.6.1010. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Physiology are provided here courtesy of The Physiological Society

RESOURCES