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Thoracic duct lymph flow and composition in conscious dogs and the influence of anaesthesia and passive limb movement

  • Heart, Circulation, Respiration and Blood; Environmental and Exercise Physiology
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Summary

In dogs with a chronic thoracic ductvenous shunt, lymph flow (LF), protein concentration (LP), transported protein (LTP), albumin to globulin ratio (LAG), plasma volume (PV), intravascular protein pool (IVP) and disappearance rate of labelled albumin (k) were determined. Measurements were made in the conscious state at rest, under halothane or Nembutal® anaesthesia without movement and during passive movement of the hind limbs.

Halothane anaesthesia (6h) reduced LF by 50% and LTP by 40%, increased LP by 18%, left LAG unchanged and produced no alteration in PV and IVP, becausek was decreased by 45%. Nembutal® anaesthesia (6h) reduced LF by 50%, LTP by 45%, LAG by 12%, left LP unchanged and reduced PV and LVP by 10% becausek did not alter. Passive movement enhanced LF by 100%, LTP by 100% and LAG by 10%, decreased LP by 14% and did not influence PV, IVP andk.

Reduced LF during halothane anaesthesia may result from an overall reduction of lymph flow due to inactivation of the “tissue pump” and reduced capillary filtration. Reduced LF during Nembutal® anaesthesia arises from a reduction of muscular lymph flow due to immobilization but not from reduced capillary filtration.

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Schad, H., Brechtelsbauer, H. Thoracic duct lymph flow and composition in conscious dogs and the influence of anaesthesia and passive limb movement. Pflugers Arch. 371, 25–31 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00580768

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00580768

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