Constriction of canine prenodal lymphatic vessels following the intra-arterial injection of vasoactive agents and hemorrhage.

In the forelimbs of anesthetized dogs, perfused at constant arterial inflow, we measured the pressure in a prenodal lymphatic vessel before and following arterial hemorrhage to a mean systemic arterial pressure of approximately 55 mmHg. We also made bolus intra-arterial injections of 1 microgram epinephrine and arginine vasopressin or 20 micrograms dopamine, prostaglandin F2 alpha and tyramine. Hemorrhage and all vasoactive substances significantly increased forelimb perfusion pressure and skin small artery pressure. Skin small vein pressure was significantly decreased by hemorrhage or injection of epinephrine, dopamine or tyramine, but was not significantly altered by arginine vasopressin or prostaglandin F2 alpha. Mean systemic arterial pressure was decreased by hemorrhage, increased by arginine vasopressin, tyramine and prostaglandin F2 alpha but remained unchanged following the injection of either epinephrine or dopamine. Lymphatic pressure was significantly increased following hemorrhage or the injection of all vasoactive agents. The increase seen with tyramine was small but consistent and thus statistically significant. These data indicate that the prenodal lymphatic vessels of the canine forelimb actively constrict in response to the neural and/or hormonal consequences of arterial hemorrhage or the introduction of exogenous vasoactive substances into the arterial blood supply to the forelimb. The results of the current study support the possibility that lymphatic function, through activation of lymphatic smooth muscle, is subject to neural and/or hormonal regulation in certain physiological and/or pathophysiological states.