THE EFFECTS OF DECREASED BLOOD OXYGEN AND INCREASED BLOOD CARBON DIOXIDE ON THE FLOW AND COMPOSITION OF CERVICAL AND CARDIAC LYMPH

Abstract

Exposure of dogs to low O2 or to high CO2 results in increased production of cervical lymph. Secondary increases in lymph flow are difficult to produce following initial exposure to low O2, and are not affected by initial exposure to high CO2. Increased lymph production began when the arterial O2 saturation reached 75% (equivalent to an altitude of 17,000 ft.), and was greatest at a saturation of 52.5% (altitude over 20,000 ft.). Exposure to low O2 produced a significant damage to the cardiac blood capillaries. The % of protein in the lymph decreased with increased lymph flow, while the passage of protein from blood capillaries to the lymph increased as flow increased. Decrease in the concn. of serum protein occurred coincident with increased output of lymph protein. Acacia, injected intraven., appeared regularly in the lymph. With increased lymph flow, the course of lymph and serum acacia paralleled that of the lymph and serum proteins. The ratio between lymph albumin and globulin remains constant at all rates of flow. The increased passage of protein and acacia from the blood into the lymph is believed to indicate that exposure to low O2 or high CO2 results in increased capillary permeability with loss of serum protein and fluid, the fluid loss leading to increased serum colloid osmotic pressure.