The use of perfused rabbit ovaries to investigate regional ovarian lymphatic flow

A method is presented for the perfusion of rabbit ovaries in vitro which allows continuous collection of effluent perfusate from the ovarian vein and lymphatic system. The flow of ovarian lymph and the output of progesterone and 20 alpha dihydroprogesterone in lymph and venous effluent from perfused ovaries were measured and the results compared to the same parameters measured in vivo. Rates of flow of lymphatic and venous effluent and lymph/plasma protein ratios measured from perfused ovaries were similar to those measured in vivo, and were not statistically affected by the presence of corpora lutea in the ovaries. The concentrations of progesterone and 20 alpha dihydroprogesterone in ovarian venous blood/perfusate and lymph was increased by the presence of corpora lutea, but the concentration of progesterone was lower in vitro than in vivo. The concentration of these progestins in lymph suggest that only a small proportion of ovarian lymph is derived from corpora lutea in vitro or in vivo, and most is derived from ovarian interstitium.