Relation of Lymph to Distending Fluids of the Kidney.

Abstract
The fluid which drains from the renal vein after the artery and vein of the functional kidney are simultaneously clamped was analyzed. Analyses were also made of the following which were collected just prior to the clamping: renal lymph, urine, and arterial and renal venous blood. Lymph resembled the last quarter of the kidney''s drained fluid in its content of Na, Cl, glucose and protein, but had less urea, K and PO4. Both fluids had half the protein content cf blood plasma, but the same fractional distribution, measured by paper electrophoresis, of albumin and [alpha]-1 globulin, [beta]-globulin and [alpha]-2 globulin, and [gamma]-globulin. Both fluids also had a constant composition in the face of varying urinary composition. The hypothesis is developed that fluids which functionally distend the kidney and which drain out of the vein when the artery is clamped originate from two sources: vascular blood and a large interstitial compartment. It is further postulated that blood plasma enters the interstitial compartment with utmost freedom. This compartment in turn is functionally distended with plasma plus re-sorbate in transit from tubules to the vascular system.