Peritoneal lymphatic uptake of fibrinogen and erythrocytes in the rat

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Abstract
Intact and thoracic duct-cannulated rats were dialyzed at various i.p. pressures with 5% bovine serum albumin solutions containing 125I-fibrinogen or 51Cr-erythrocytes. Lymphatic transport rates were calculated from the mass of tracer passing into the plasma space as a function of tracer concentration in the peritoneal fluid during dialysis periods ranging from 143-360 min. Peritoneal protein concentrations were constant over the duration of the experiments. The calculated lymph flow rate was independent of i.p pressure and in intact rats averaged 2.85 U 1.22 .mu.l/min for uptake of 125I-fibrinogen and 2.60 .+-. 1.17 for uptake of 51Cr-erythrocytes. The observed fluid loss rates from the peritoneal cavity were sensitive to the i.p. pressure and were 5-20 times the calculated lymph flow rate. Mass balance experiments in 2 rats dialyzed with 125I-fibrinogen indicated that a significant proportion (28%) of tracer leaving the peritoneal cavity is absorbed by the anterior muscle wall of the abdomen and is probably trapped there because of its large MW. Results from 125I-fibrinogen and 51Cr-erythrocyte uptake experiments both indicated that only .apprx. 30% of the total lymphatic drainage of the peritoneal cavity passes through the thoracic duct in rats.