Abstract
Summary
Data on the flow and composition of cardiac lymph have been collected in 9 dogs subjected to various types of increased left ventricular resistance loads. Aortic stenosis, intravenous norepinephrine and intravenous angiotensin II significantly increased the rate of cardiac lymph flow. No significant alterations in lymph composition were found. The data demonstrate that increased resistance to left ventricular emptying causes increased lymph flow. This effect is undoubtedly a reflection of increased capillary hydrostatic pressure and/or increased capillary permeability. The suggestively greater lymph flows with the use of angiotensin II may be due to increased capillary permeability as a result of increased cardiac effort without a proportional increase in coronary blood flow.
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