Hyaluronan flux from cat intestine: changes with lymph flow

Isolated and autoperfused ileal segments from pentobarbital-anesthetized cats were used to study turnover of hyaluronan in the intestine. A postnodal lymphatic was cannulated, and transcapillary and interstitial fluid fluxes were increased by raising venous pressure. Lymph hyaluronan concentration in control averaged 20.2 +/- 18.8 (SD) micrograms/ml (range 4.6-50) and increased with increasing lymph flow in all experiments to peak at concentrations two to three times above control values (at 15-20 mmHg increase in venous pressure). At higher lymph flows, hyaluronan concentration fell to below 5 micrograms/ml to an average of 21.3 +/- 19.5% of control value at the highest venous pressures used (30-40 mmHg). Tissue hyaluronan content fell from 349 +/- 191 micrograms/g dry wt in control to 148 +/- 78 micrograms/g dry wt (P less than 0.05) at the end of the experiment. In a second group, vasodilators were administered before elevation of venous pressure to prevent redistribution of blood flow between mucosal and muscular layers. The results were similar to those obtained above. In a third experimental group, venous pressure was elevated in one step to 30 mmHg and maintained at this level. Again, hyaluronan concentration initially increased and later fell well below control values. We conclude that a major part of the intestinal hyaluronan is easily mobilized by increased interstitial fluid flux.