Some Characteristics of Hepatic Lymph in the Intact Rat

Abstract

Detailed procedure for cannulation of the hepatic lymph duct and collection of hepatic lymph from rats is described. The average rate of flow of hepatic lymph from 12 rats so cannulated was 1.5 ml in 12 hours. The maximal pressure in four rats was sufficient to raise a column of lymph to a height of 26 cm. The albumin and globulin concentration of the hepatic lymph of six rats varied inversely with the volume collected and averaged two-thirds that of the serum, although qualitatively almost identical in electrophoretic studies. The glucose content of hepatic lymph was slightly higher than that of plasma (21 rats), while cholesterol content was less than that of plasma (28 rats). The urea and cholic acid concentrations were the same in plasma and hepatic lymph, within the limits of accuracy of the used (4 and 6 rats, respectively). Following biliary obstruction in six rats, the hepatic lymph contained increased amounts of cholic acid and bilirubin and was increased in volume to an average of 5.1 ml.