Comparison of flow rates and composition of ovarian lymph and blood in the Day-16 pregnant rat

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Abstract
Rats (5) at Day 16 of pregnancy were anesthetized and a modification of a venous outflow technique was used to collect ovarian venous blood and lymph for 2 h. Both fluids were analysed for progesterone, 20.alpha.-dihydroprogesterone, total protein, transferrin and albumin concentrations. In addition SDS gel electrophoresis was carried out to obtain an initial indication of permeability of capillaries to the various protein fractions. The concentrations of progesterone and 20.alpha.-dihydroprogesterone in ovarian lymph were only 37% and 48% respectively of the corresponding concentrations in the venous plasma. Total protein concentration in the lymph was 53% of the venous plasma. The albumin and transferrin concentrations were similarly lower in lymph than plasma but the difference was only significant for transferrin. This study confirms that the rate of lymph flow, per unit mass of tissue, is high for the ovary and represents about 1.1% of plasma flow. It shows also that of the total progestagens secreted only around 0.5% leave by the lymphatic route. The finding of relatively low progestagen concentrations in lymph questions the view that progestagens are transported by simple diffusion from the luteal cell to blood and raises the possibility of a counter-current flow between fluid in the interstitial space and blood.

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