Chronic transvascular fluid flux and lymph flow during volume-loading hypertension

The chronic roles of the transcapillary fluid flux and lymph flow in the distribution of extracellular fluid volume during volume-loading hypertension were investigated in five conscious dogs. Similarly, the distribution of plasma proteins across the microvasculature was evaluated. During the early phases of volume-loading hypertension the fluid balance was positive, which caused the extracellular fluid volume and the plasma volume to increase 25 and 15%, respectively. The thoracic duct lymph flow more than doubled, but the increase in transcapillary fluid flux was even greater. Therefore the interstitial fluid volume increased 30%. This fluid shift from the vasculature into the interstitium probably prevented an even greater rise in arterial pressure. In addition, the transcapillary protein flux more than doubled, but the accompanying increase in lymph protein transport prevented any change in plasma protein mass. During the latter part of the saline-infusion period, the lymph flow declined toward its control, which caused a net transfer of fluid into the interstitium. In conclusion, the transcapillary fluid flux and lymph flow play significant roles in extracellular fluid volume distribution.