THE OUTPUT OF CELLS IN LYMPH FROM THE POPLITEAL NODE OF SHEEP

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Abstract
A technique for collecting lymph for long periods of time from the hind limbs of conscious sheep is described. Spontaneously flowing lymphatic fistulhæ have been established in fifteen sheep and the number and type of the cells coming from the popliteal lymph node have been studied. Following the operation the output of cells in the lymph was severely depressed for a period of about 24 hr. Under basal conditions the rate of lymph flow varied between 2 and 10 ml./hr. and the output of cells between 30 and 100 millions/hr. When the popliteal node was stimulated by the subcutaneous injection of human serum globulin into the lower leg, the cell output increased and different types of cell appeared in the lymph. Large, primitive transitional cells, and cells of the plasma series were present in considerable numbers during the response. Some observations on the cell content of peripheral lymph, collected from chronic afferent lymphatic fistulæ, are also presented. The significance of the cell types seen in the lymph collected during these experiments is discussed.