Skip to main content
The Journal of Physiology logoLink to The Journal of Physiology
. 1983 Aug;341:517–526. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1983.sp014821

The effect of intravenous adrenaline and noradrenaline infusion of peripheral lymph flow in the sheep.

N G McHale, I C Roddie
PMCID: PMC1195348  PMID: 6620189

Abstract

Pressure fluctuations and lymph flow were measured in popliteal, prefemoral and mesenteric efferent lymphatic vessels in conscious sheep. Intravenous adrenaline infusion increased frequency of lymphatic contraction and lymph flow in all three vessels. In the case of the prefemoral vessels flow remained high after the infusion had stopped. Intravenous noradrenaline infusion also increased frequency of contraction and lymph flow in all three vessels but prefemoral flow was depressed after the infusion had stopped. Lymphatic frequency of contraction and lymph flow increased when the animals were started. Anaesthetizing the animals with pentobarbitone did not abolish lymphatic contractions, nor did it prevent the response to adrenaline and noradrenaline infusion. The most obvious interpretation of these results is that adrenaline and noradrenaline act by increasing frequency and force of pumping of lymphatic vessels.

Full text

PDF
519

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Adair T. H., Moffatt D. S., Paulsen A. W., Guyton A. C. Quantitation of changes in lymph protein concentration during lymph node transit. Am J Physiol. 1982 Sep;243(3):H351–H359. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.1982.243.3.H351. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Allen W. J., Barcroft H., Edholm O. G. On the action of adrenaline on the blood vessels in human skeletal muscle. J Physiol. 1946 Dec 6;105(3):255–267. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. BARCROFT H., GASKELL P., SHEPHERD J. T., WHELAN R. F. The effect of noradrenaline infusions on the blood flow through the human forearm. J Physiol. 1954 Mar 29;123(3):443–450. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1954.sp005063. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Browse N. L. Response of lymphatics of canine hind limb to sympathetic nerve stimulation. J Physiol. 1968 Jul;197(1):25–36. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1968.sp008542. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. COBBOLD A. F., VASS C. C. Responses of muscle blood vessels to intra-arterially and intravenously administered noradrenaline. J Physiol. 1953 Apr 28;120(1-2):105–114. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1953.sp004876. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. DOEMLING D. B., STEGGERDA F. R. Stimulation of thoracic duct lymph flow by epinephrine and norepinephrine. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1962 Aug-Sep;110:811–813. doi: 10.3181/00379727-110-27659. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. De Micheli P., Glässer A. H. The effects of catecholamines and adrenoceptor blocking drugs on the canine peripheral lymph flow. Br J Pharmacol. 1975 Apr;53(4):499–504. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1975.tb07386.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Florey H. Observations on the contractility of lacteals: Part II. J Physiol. 1927 Jun 7;63(1):1–18. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1927.sp002375. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Fujii J., Wernze H. Effect of vasopressor substances on the thoracic duct lymph flow. Nature. 1966 May 28;210(5039):956–957. doi: 10.1038/210956a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Földi M., Zoltán O. T. The effects of norepinephrine and angiotensine on the lymphatic system. Med Pharmacol Exp Int J Exp Med. 1966;15(1):59–67. doi: 10.1159/000135849. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. GREEN H. D., DEAL C. P., Jr, BARDHANABAEDYA S., DENISON A. B., Jr The effects of adrenergic substances and ischemia on the blood flow and peripheral resistance of the canine mesenteric vascular bed before and during adrenergic blockade. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1955 Jan;113(1):115–123. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. GREEN H. D., KEPCHAR J. H. Control of peripheral resistance in major systemic vascular beds. Physiol Rev. 1959 Jul;39(3):617–686. doi: 10.1152/physrev.1959.39.3.617. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Hall J. G., Morris B., Woolley G. Intrinsic rhythmic propulsion of lymph in the unanaesthetized sheep. J Physiol. 1965 Sep;180(2):336–349. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1965.sp007706. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Lewis G. P., Winsey N. J. The action of pharmacologically active substances on the flow and composition of cat hind limb lymph. Br J Pharmacol. 1970 Nov;40(3):446–460. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. McHale N. G., Roddie I. C. The effects of catecholamines on pumping activity in isolated bovine mesenteric lymphatics. J Physiol. 1983 May;338:527–536. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1983.sp014687. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. McHale N. G., Roddie I. C., Thornbury K. D. Nervous modulation of spontaneous contractions in bovine mesenteric lymphatics. J Physiol. 1980 Dec;309:461–472. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1980.sp013520. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Physiology are provided here courtesy of The Physiological Society

RESOURCES