Abstract
Summary
The present results support the belief that, following common duct ligation, bile “regurgitates” into the lymph, and thence, via the thoracic duct into the blood. The appearance of bile acids and bilirubin in the thoracic duct lymph, as previously reported, is confirmed. The present study also reveals that the bilirubin of the lymph, under these circumstances, is mainly of the prompt reacting type, a finding in accord with the concept of a regurgitation of bile into the lymph.
During the early phase of biliary obstruction, the injected bromsulfalein quickly appeared in the lymph. After 36 hours, however, it was not removed from the blood and did not appear in the lymph in appreciable amount.
The cholesterol, on the contrary, did not increase significantly in the lymph within 24 hours, while the alkaline phosphatase behaved in an intermediary manner.
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